Vahe H. Apelian
(for record)
Different sources in the internet claim that the average number of Bibles in a U.S. household are as follows:
“The average number of Bibles per household is 4.3.”
“The average American home has 4.4 Bibles!”
“The latest from Barna Research says there are 4.7 Bibles per household.”
Surely, we also have at least 5 Bibles in our household. But we also have Armenian Bibles. The Armenians call the Bible Sourp Kirk, that is to say Holy Book. The Armenians also call the Bible Asdouatzshounch, that is to say Breath of God. With each one of the Armenian Bible, we have a sentimental connection.
We have the following Armenian Bibles
MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER’S BIBLE.
It is a, leather-bound Armeno-Turkish Bible. That is to say the text is in Armenian characters but reads Turkish. My grandmother has noted her name and dated: Digin (Mrs.) Karoun Chelebian, May 9, 1931. The following is noted in English: “Printed for the American Bible Society by the American Press, Beirut, Syria, in 1927”. The pioneer for the Armeno-Turkiish Bible is credited to be missionary Goodell, who played a decisive role in the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church. (http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2017/04/goodell-among-armenians.html )
My mother has noted in the Bible that it is her mother’s – 1900-June 25, 1976 – Bible and that it should be kept with upmost care. My mother also notes that her mother claimed to have read it 37 times. I remember her reading the Bible every day.
My maternal grandmother was widowed at a young age. Her 38 years old husband died of “pneumonia”. It would not surprise me that it was malnourishment that was the cause of his death. Having died of “neumonia” was a common attribute to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
My grandmother’s bible is also a family chronicle. The Bible page on which the matriarch of the family Karoun (Apelian) Chelebian recorded the births of her children is now torn apart but is kept with the Bible. In her beautiful handwriting my grandmother recorded the birthdates of their children but deferring to her husband. The inscription reads in third person, noting that
Khatcher Chelebian's daughter Zaghganoush birthday 1920 Jan. 22 and her death on 1921, June 27.
His son Antranig’s birthday 1922, March 11.
His daughter Zvart’s birthday 1924, Sept. 2.
His son Hovhannes birthday 1926, Aug 26.
His daughter Anneg birthday 1928, Sept. 23 and her death 1945, May 17.
The death of Khatcher Chelebian 1930, February 14...at the age of 38.
On the last page of the Bible she has noted the premature death of her youngest child, her daughter Anna. She has noted the following: “My dearest and sweet Annig was born on September 23, 1928 and was called to her eternal rest on May 17, 1945.”
MY GRANDMOTHER’S GIFTED BIBLE TO HER DAUTHER, MY MOTHER.
My maternal grandmother has gifted a Bible to her daughter my mother. She has inscribed the following on the first page.
“I gift this Bible to my daughter Zvart Apelian. I pray that this Bible be their life long best companion and guide. I remain always pray full for them, her mother Karoun Chelebian…. on April 24, 1954, in Beirut.”
This Bible of the Old and New Testament was printed in Vienna, by the American Bible Society, in 1932.
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