Rananjay Anand, Karen Mkrtchyan and the  India-Armenia Friendship - NGO group on Facebook
 
Arpine Gyulinyan and her husband Piyush Dalal
Sanjay Choksi and Himanshu Desai
from the Surat Science Museum, all for locating the cemetery and donating their photographs to my Armenian Graves in India Project,

and........

Professor Sebouh Aslanian, Assistant Professor, Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History UCLA and
Very Reverend Father Krikor Maksoudian, of Arlington, Massachusetts, a professor of Armenian Church History and also a past Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center in New York City.
 
Both of these respected scholars have the exceptional  knowledge of the rare 'Julfan dialect', the style in which the graves were written and sculpted. I am grateful to them, and all my volunteer contributors for  finding the time and contributing the modern Armenian and English translations of these very important graves which until now, have never before been translated into English.

In the 1960's Reverend Vasken Stepanian used to travel 187 miles (approximately 287 kilometers) from the Armenian Church in Bombay, to hold an Armenian service at the Chapel in Surat.

Reverend Vasken Stepanian inside the Armenian Chapel at Surat.

Services are no longer held here.

Reverend Vasken Stepanian and some of the congregation.

Members of the community paying their respects.

Armenian community members attend the service.

Curious locals look on.

Rarely opened, the doorway inviting the visitor to enter.

Inside the Chapel any readable transcriptions are long gone but look closely and you will see original wall decorations under the flaking paint. 

This is the tomb of Heghine [Helen]
Wife of Johannes son of David of Tiflis
Who passed away from
This world in the
Year 1780, November 22.

3097.

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF [NEW] JUL-FA NATIVE LUSIKENTS <MIN>AS AGHA’S SON SIMON WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE YEAR 116 HAMIRA 2<2>*

* In the year 116 Hamira 2<2> - corresponds to AD 1731, December 7 (Julian), December 18 (Gregorian). 

3099.

THIS IS THE GRAVE

OF TORAB’S*

DAUGHTER MA-

RIAM

IN THE LESSER YEAR 165

GHAMAR 20**

** Torab – is a very rarely used name.  It derives from the Arabic turab [meaning “earth”] and is used as a name by the Persians.

** Year 165, Ghamar 20 – AD 1780, August 7 (Julian); August 18 (Gregorian).

3104.

U

*

<TH>IS IS THE GRAVE

OF POPOKENTS

GRIGOR’S SON

VARTAN

IN THE YEAR 1184**

*Above the left and right sides of the cross there are vestiges of marks.  It is not clear if these are ornaments or letters.

3105

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF WATCH-

MAKER AGHATSAR’S*

FOUR-DAY DAUGH-

TER DSHKHOY**

IN THE YEAR 159, TIRA 2, THURSDAY***

* AGHATSAR – The man’s name is Aghazar, colloquial for Eghiazar = the biblical Eleazar.

**Dshkhoy – pronounced Dush-khó.  It is a common word meaning “queen” that is also used as a name.

*** The date corresponds to AD 1774, Sept. 18 (Julian c) and Sept. 29 (Gregorian c).  According to the charts, the day of the week was indeed Thursday.

3107

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF AGA TSATUR

WHO PASSED ON TO THE SUPERNAL

WORLD.  HE WAS A NATIVE OF [NEW] JULFA,

HE FIRST SON OF MAMINTS AGHA-

MAL.  HE HAD NO DAUGHTER AND [NO]

SON, A FORGOTTEN WRETCHED [MAN].

WHOEVER VISITS MY GRAVE,

LET HIM SAY A “MERCY.”*

IN THE YEAR 154** AND 5^TH OF THE MONTH OF ADAM.***

* “Mercy” – is short for “Lord, have mercy.” The prayer is obviously for the soul of Agha Tsatur who had no heirs to pray for the salvation of his soul.

** Year 154 – corresponds to A.D. 1769.  One might also be tempted to read the last digit as 3, and in that case the year would be 1768.

*** Adam 5 – corresponds to April 24.

3108

JESUS U CHRIST*

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF [NEW] JU-

LFA NATIVE BD-

UZENTS** MATOS’

SON MINAS WHO

PASSED ON TO GOD

IN THE YEAR OF THE LESSER [ERA] 92

[MONTH OF] NIRYAN 29, SATURDAY***

* Jesus Christ – is abbreviated in the Armenian.

** Bduzents – The letter u in this family name stands for an  Armenian letter that is pronounced exactly like the  schwa.

***The date – 92 corresponds to AD 1708.  The 29^th day of Nirhan falls on March 13 (Julian) and on March 24 (Gregorian), which was a Saturday.

3110

THROUGH THIS FORMIDABLE AND HIDEOUS GATE

I ENTERED ETERNITY FOR EVER

WITH HOPE FOR WHAT HAS NO END;

MAY THE LORD MAKE [ME] WORTHY OF [ETERNAL] LIFE.

IN NAME A PRIEST

BUT AN UNWORTHY [ONE], I, REV. OSKAN

AM A SON OF REV. HOHANNESIAN

BUT [am] UNLIKE [HIM] IN [HIS] WAY OF LIFE.

AMONG ALL OF THE CREATED BEINGS,

I AM A SINFUL CULPRIT,

BUT FROM THE LORD OF THE CREATED BEINGS ALONE

I EXPECT MERCY.

IN THE YEAR 1231* OF THE ARMENIAN

ERA, 22^ND OF THE MONTH OF TIRA**

*Year 1231 of the Armenian era – 551 + 1251 = AD 1782.

**Tira 22 = October 8 (Julian); October 19 (Gregorian).

Note – The Armenian original  rhymes. 

3115

BURIED IN THIS TOMB

IS A WORTHY OLD MAN

NAMED ASLAN*

SON OF PIRIGUL**

HE WAS FROM THE COUNTRY YOZH BAR (?)*** AND

THE GOKHTAN DISTRICT, A GOOD LAND****

AND FROM THE VILLAGE OF GAGHGOCHI*****,

A JOYOUS [PLACE] WITH NUMEROUS VINEYARDS.

HAVING PHYSICALLY REACHED THE AGE OF

SEVENTY SEVEN

HE LEFT THIS WORLD THAT IS FULL OF BITTERNESS

[AND] WENT UP TO THE PATERNAL [REALM]

IN THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN ERA

OF THE LONGER CYCLE

1221, FEBRUARY 25 // 1772/156, NIRHAN --******

More Info

3119

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF

KHOJA MINASEANTS SE-

TAGHEANTS MR. HOH-

ANNES [JOHN] AGHA’S SON, THE MOST

BELOVED GITUN*

HOVSEP [JOSEPH], WHO AT [THE AGE] OF 4 YEARS

REPOSED IN THE LORD IN THE YEAR 1785/170**

GHAMAR 7.***

More Info

3121

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF HA-

ZARAPET’S* WIFE

UGHRLU.  IN THE YEAR

159, DAM[A]Y 25***

More Info

3122. Translation coming soon

3123.

LORD GOD U JESUS CHRIST*

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF HAY-

RAPET** WHO WAS SON OF

MANSURENTS*** POGHOS [PAUL]

WHO PASSED ON TO CHRIST*

YEAR 1139 OF THE ARMENIAN [ERA], NAKHA 2****

More Info

3128.

IN THIS GRAVE LIES THE BODY

OF A PIOUS WOMAN.  SHE WAS

More Info

3132.

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF TNAKERT* NATIVE

ANDREAS’ SON THE LATE

SARGIS WHO PASSED

AWAY IN THE YEAR 1231** OF THE ARMENIAN ERA

OVDAN 25, WEDNESDAY***

More Info

3135.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՊԱՐՈՆ ԱՎԵՏ ՍԱՐ
ԳՍԻ ԴՈՒՍԴՐ ՕՌԻՈՐԴ ՍԱՄ
ԲԱՐՔՈՒԷ ՈՐ Ի ՄՈՒՏ՞՞ ՎԵՇՏԱՍ
ԱՆԵՐՐՈՐԴ ԱՄԻՆ ԿԵՆԱՑ ԻՅ՞՞
ՀԱՆԳԵԱՒ Ի ՏԷՐ ԹԻՒՆ 1806
ՂԱՄԱՐ15 ՕՐՆ ՀԻՆԳՇԱԲԹԻ

THIS IS THE TOMB OF MISS SAMBAR[KU]?
DAUGHTER OF PARON AVET SON OF SARGIS
WHO AT THE END OF HER SIXTEENTH YEAR RESTED IN THE LORD IN THE YEAR 1806
GHAMAR 15 THE DAY OF THURSDAY.

3136.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆՍ
ՅՈՒՍՈՒՖԻ ՈՐԴԻ
ՅԱԿՈԲՋԱՆԻՆ
ԹԻՒՆ ՃԻԱ [121] ՆԱԽԱ Դ [4]

THIS IS THE TOMB OF HAKOBJAN
SON OF YUSUF
IN THE YEAR 121 [1736] NAKHA 4.

3137.

ՏԱՊԱՆՍ ԽՕ
ՋԱ ԱԶԱՏԱ ՊԵՏՐՈ
ՍԻ ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ ՅԱՆԱՅԻ
ԴՈՒՍՏՐՇԱՅԻՆԻ
ՈՐԴԻ ԱՒԵՏԻՆ ԹԻՒՆ
ՓՐԿՉԻՆ ՌԷՃԻԹ [1729]
ՈՎԴԱՆ Բ [2]

THIS IS THE TOMB OF
AVET THE SON OF SHAHIN
DAUGHTER OF HANNAH WIFE OF
KWAJA AZADA PETROS. ANNO DOMINI
1729 OVDAN 2

3138.

THE GRAVE OF KHO-

JAZATA* PETROS’ [PETER]

WIFE HANA’S**

DAUGHTER SHAYIN’S***

SON AWET.  IN THE YEAR

OF THE SAVIOR 1729

OVDAN 2.****

More Info

3140.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊ
ԱՆ ԱՇՔՈՒՐԷ
ՆՑ ԶԱՔԱՐԷ
ՈՐԴԻ ՄԱՐՏԻՆ
ԻՆ՞՞ ՈՐՓՈԽԵ
ՑԱՒ ԱՇԽԱՐՀԷՍ ԹԻՒՆ
ԱԴԱՄ՞՞

THIS IS THE TOMB OF MARTIN??
[ILLEGIBLE COULD BE MARTIROS
OR SOMETHING ELSE]
SON OF ZAKAR OF THE
ASHKURENTS FAMILY
WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE YEAR 1774?76?
ADAM ?? [DAY IS ILLEGIBLE]

3141.

This tomb erected by M. Antonia Smith. Sacred to the memory of her husband George Smith who departed this life in the year 1785 aged 30 years.

3142.

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF HA-

MADAN NATIVE EV-

UM’S* SON MATTE-

OS [MATHEW] WHO PASSED

AWAY FROM THIS WORLD IN THE LESSER ERA

161, NIRHAN 7.**

More Info

3144.

THIS IS THE GRAVE

OF MIRAK’S SON OSK-

AN WHO PASSED AWAY FROM THIS WORLD ON

TO [HIS ETERNAL] ABODE IN THE YEAR

1175, OVDAN THREE*

* IN THE YEAR 1175, OVDAN THREE – The year is given according to the Armenian era and corresponds to AD 1726.  Ovdan three is January 17 (Julian) and January 28 (Gregorian).

3146.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՅԵ
ՐԵՒԱՆՑԻ ԱՂԱԼԱ
ՐԷՆՑ ՌԱՖԱԷԼ
ԱՂԷ ԹՈՒՍՏՐ ԵՒ ՄԷ
ԼՔՈՒՄԻ ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ Բ
ԱՐԵՊԱՇՏՈՒՀԻ ԱՆ
ՆԱՄԱՐԻԷ ՈՐ ԼԻ՞՞ ԱՒ
ՈՒՐԲՔ՞՞ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ
 ՅԱՇԽԱՐՀ ՎԵՐԻՆ
ԹԻՒՆ1790 ԴԱՄԱՅ 27
ԵՒ 175ԻՆ ՍՈՒՐԱԹՈՒՄՍ

THIS IS THE TOMB OF THE PIOUS
ANNA MARIA?? DAUGHTER OF RAPHAEL
OF THE AGHALARENTS FAMILY FROM JULFA
AND WIFE OF MELKUM WHO PASSED
TO THE WORLD ABOVE ON 27 OF DAMA IN
1790 AND 175 OF THE SMALL CALENDAR
IN THIS [CITY OF] SURAT

3147.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ Ջ
ՈՒՂԱՅԵՑԻ ՅԱՐՈՒ
ԹԻՒՆԻՈՐԴԻՍԱ
ՐԳՍԻՆ ՈՐ 23 ԱՄԱՑ ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ
ԱՇԽԱՐԷՍԹԻՒՆ
ԹԻՐԱ 10 ՍՈՒՐԱԹ

THIS IS THE TOMB OF SARGIS
SON OF HARUT'IWN OF JULFA
WHO PASSED AWAY AGED 23
IN 1791/176 ON TIRA 10
IN SURAT

3149.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊ
ԱՆ ԲԱԲԱՃ
ԱՆԻ ՈՐԴԻ
ՀԷՐԱՅՊԵՏԻՆ ԹԻՒՆ
ՓՈՔՐ ՄԻՆ
ՃԼԱ [130] ԴԱՄԱ Ե [5]

THIS IS THE TOMB OF
HERAPET SON OF BABAJAN
IN THE YEAR OF THE SMALL CALENDAR 130 [1745]
ADAM 5

3152.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՞՞՞Ի ԴՈՒՍՏՐ
ԵՒ ՄԷԼԻՔՆԱԶ ԱՂԷ ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ
ԳՈՒԼՆԱԲԱԴԻՆ ՈՐ ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ
ԿԷ [67] ԱՄՍ ՅԱՇԽԱՐԷՍ ԱՌ ՏԷՐ
ԱՍՏՈՒԱԾՆ՞ 1791ՓՈՔՐ 176 ԹԻՐԱ 6

THIS IS THE TOMB OF GULNABAT
DAUGHTER OF ??
AND WIFE OF MELIKNAZ AGHA
WHO PASSED TO THE LORD GOD
AT THE AGE OF 67 IN 1791 OR THE SMALL CALENDAR OF 176 ON TIRA 6

3157.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՋՈՒՂԱՅ
ԵՑԻ ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ ՈՐ
ԴԻ ՊԱՐՈՆ ԳՐԻԳՈՐԻՆ
ՈՐ ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ ԱՇԽԱՐ
ՀԷՍ Ի ԹԻՒՆ1788ԴԱՄԱ 24
ՕՐՆ ՀԻՆԿՇԱԲԱԹ
ԻՓՈՔՐ ԹԻՒՆ173 ԻՆ
ՍՈՒՐԱԹՈՒՄՍ

THIS IS THE TOMB OF PARON
GRIGOR SON OF MATTEOS
OF JULFA WHO PASSED
FROM THIS WORLD 
IN THE YEAR 1788 ON 24 OF
DAMA ON THURSDAY
AND IN THE SMALL CALENDAR 173
IN THIS CITY OF SURAT

3158.

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF [NEW] JULFA

NATIVE BARAGHAM’S [BARLAAM] DAUGHTER

AND MR. GRIGOR’S [GREGORY] WIFE

GRANDMA MARIAM

WHO PASSED AWAY FROM THIS WORLD

IN THE YEAR OF OUR SAVIOR

1787, [AND] OF THE LESSER ERA 172

NAKHA 24, MON-

DAY,* IN SURAT

* Nakha 24, 172, Monday – corresponds to 1787, July 12 (Julian), July 23 (Gregorian).  According to the chronological charts, that day was indeed a Monday

3159.

IN THIS GRAVE IS BURIED

A NOBLE PRAISEWORTHY MODEST [WOMAN]

NAMED EGHISABET [= ELIZABETH];

More Info

3165.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՆՈՐ ՋՈՒՂԱ
ՈՒ ԹԱՒՐԻԶԵՑԻ ԴԱՀԲԱՇԵԱՆՑ ՍՏԵՓԱՆԻ
ԴՈՒՍՏՐ ԵՒ ՏԷՐ ԳԱԼՐԱՏԻ ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ ԲԷԿԶԱՏԷ
ԹԻՒՆ ՓՐԿՉԻՆ ՆԱԽԱՅ՞՞

THIS IS THE TOMB OF BEKZADEH DAUGHTER OF STEPAN OF THE DAHBASHIAN FAMILY OF TABRIZ IN NEW JULFA AND WIFE OF TER GALRAT
ANNO DOMINI 1784 MONTH OF NAKHA ?[DATE IS ILLEGIBLE]

3167.

Translation coming soon.

3170.

Translation coming soon.

3174.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ
ԲԻՈԹԼԷՐԻ՞ԱՂ
ՈՒԲԻ ԴՈՒՍՏՐ
ԸՒԵԵՄԻԷ
ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ ՎԱ
ՐԹԷՐԻՆ ՈՐ Փ
ՈԽԵՑԱՒ ԱՌ
ՎԵՐԻՆ ՍԻՕՆ
1786ՇԱԲԱԹ2

THIS IS THE TOMB OF
VARTER THE DAUGHTER OF AGHUB BIOTLERE [BAUDELAIRE?]?
AND WIFE OF YEREMIYE (JEREMIA]
WHO PASSED TO THE SION IN HEAVEN [LITERALLY, THE SION ABOVE]
IN 1786 SHABAT 2

3176.

Translation coming soon.

3177.

Translation coming soon.

3180.

Translation coming soon.

3183.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՉՈՒ
ՂԱԵՑԻ ՅՈՎԱՆ
Ի ՈՐԴԻ ՅԱՐՈՒԹ
ԻՒՆԻՆ ՈՐ ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ
ԱՇԽԱՐՀԷՍ Ի ՍՈՒՐԱԹ
ԹԻՒՆ ՓՐՔՉԻՆ1793 ՀԱՄԻՐԱՅ11

THIS IS THE TOMB OF HARUT'IWN
SON OF HOVAN OF JULFA
WHO PASSED AWAY IN SURAT IN
ANNO DOMINI 1793, HAMIRA 11

3218.

Translation coming soon.

3219.

Translation coming soon.

3225.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ԽՕ

ՋԱՄԻՆԱՍԷՆՑՍԷԹ

ԱՂԻՆ՞ՈՀԱՆՆԷՍ

ԱՂԷ՞ ՈՐԴԻՊՈՂՈՍԻՆ

ՈՐՏԻՕՔՄԱՆԿԱԿՆ՞

ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒ ԱՇԽԱՐՀԷՍ

՞՞՞՞9?2?

THIS IS THE TOMB OF

OHANNES SON OF POGHOS

OF SETH AGHA OF

THE KHOJAMINASENTS

FAMILY WHO PASSED FROM

THIS WORLD IN HIS YOUTH

[IN THIS CITY OF SURAT??]*

3227.

UNDER THIS TOMBSTONE LIES THE BODY

OF THE PRAISEWORTHY TER [REVEREND] PETROS,

SON OF HARUTI[W]N.  FROM

THIS WORLD HE DEPARTED, [AND] ARRIVED

NEAR HIM WHOM HE DESIRED [= CHRIST] IN THE YEAR 176,* AREMA [HAMIRA?]** 8

* Year 176 – of Azaria’s calendar corresponds to A.D. 1791.

** Hamira 8 – corresponds to November 23 (Julian) and December 4 (Gregorian).

3239.

ՏԷՐ ԱՍՏՈԳԱԾ

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍ

ՈՂՈՐՄԵԱ՞՞

ԱՅՍԷՏԱՊԱՆՋՆԹ

ԼՈՒՄԷՆՑԱՌԱՔԵԼ

ԿՈԲԻՈՐԴԻՅՈՀԱՆՋ

ԱՆԱՂԷԿՈՂԱԿԻՑՄԱՔ

ՐԱԿԵՆՑԱՂԽԱԹՈՒՆ

ԳՈՒԼԸՍՏԱՆԻՆՈՐ

ԾԸ [59] ԱՄԱՑ ՓՈԽԵՑԱՒԱ

ՇԽԱՐՀԷՍԻԹԻՒՆՓՐ

ԿՉԻ1788ՓՈՔՐՃՀԳ [173] ԱԴԱՄԺ[10]ՉՈՐԵՔՇԱԲԱԹ

THIS IS THE TOMB OF THE PIOUS LADY

GULESTAN DAUGHTER

OF ARAKEL OF THE JENTLOOM FAMILY

AND WIFE OF HOVANJAN [OWENJOHN]

SON OF HAKOB OF THE GUERAK FAMILY

WHO PASSED FROM THIS WORLD AT

THE AGE OF 59 IN THE YEAR OF OUR SAVIOUR

1788 OR OF THE SMALL CALENDAR 173 ADAM 10

ON A WEDNESDAY

3254

Transcription coming soon.

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՋՈՒՂԱՅԵՑԻ ԾԱՏՈՒՐԻ ՈՐԴԻ ՅՈՀԱՆԵՍԻՆ ԹԻՒՆ ՌԲՃԺԴ ՅՈՒԼԻՍ ՞՞THIS IS THE TOMB OF JOHANESS THE SON OF TS‘ATUR FROM JULFA IN THE YEAR 1214 [1765], JULY ?? 

……………GOD

…………CHRIST

THIS IS THE GRAVE OF ZHIR(?)*

TER PETROSEAN

MELKUM’S

SON PETROS [PETER]

WHO REPOSED

IN CHRIST IN THE YEAR 99, OVDAN 20**

* Zhir – I am reading the word zhir, which means “vigorous.”  It seems to be used as a part of the family name Ter Petrosean.

** Year 99, Ovdan 20 – A.D. 1715, Feb. 3 (Julian); Feb. 14 (Greg.).

THIS IS THE GRAVE

OF [NEW] JULFA NATIVE

SARGIS’S SON

REV. GRIGOR

IN THE YEAR OF JESUS 1779, HAMIRA 22*

Hamira 22 – December 7 (Julian); December 18 (Gregorian).

ԱՅՍ Է ՏԱՊԱՆ ՋՈՒՂԱՅԵՑԻ ՊՏՂԵԱՆՑ ՏԷՐ ՅԱԿՈԲԻ ԿՈՂԱԿԻՑ ՞՞՞ԴՈՒՍՏՐ ԽԱԹՈՒՆԻՆ ՈՐ Է Ի ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԱՄԱՅ ԹԻՒՆ 177 ՆԱԴԱՐ 6 THIS IS THE TOMB OF KHATUN THE DAUGHTER OF [??? THE WIFE OF TER HAKOB OF THE PTGHEANTS FAMILY WHO DIED IN CHRIST IN THE YEAR 177 (1792) NADAR 6 (AUGUST 23)