Sako Mahserejian and I were friends from our days in Lebanon. But our friendship was not strictly personal on ideological grounds. It also extends to my parents and to some other family relations. Yahoo email let me know that “Sako Mahserejian and I appeared together on 568 messages between December 2018 and September 2023.” In time, our stands regarding the Armenian government became so divergent that I asked him to give me a break. I could not bring myself to resume our correspondence again. But I valued and retained our bosom friendship. I am sure he did as well. In lieu of my eulogy, I attached my translation of V. Avakian’s eulogy at Sarkis Mahserejian’s Fortieth – Karasounk. The remembrance was posted in Aztag Daily today, March 21, 2026. Vaհe H Apelian
Tomorrow is the fortieth day of the death of Unger Sarkis Mahserejian, the well-known and beloved Unger Sako; the Sako of “Azdag” who left behind a respectable legacy in the Armenian press and children’s literature.
Unger Sako’s main field of service became Lebanon, where from 1976-1997 he was part of the staff of the ARF Lebanese daily newspaper “Azdag”, first as an assistant editor, then as an editor and finally as a director and editor-in-chief. During the most terrible days of the Lebanese war, Unger Sako, with the courage of an ARF-er, remained on the frontline, like a watchman. He did not leave his post, he did not fail in his duty; on the contrary, he made “Azdag” his first home, he worked and often lived in “Azdag” so that the newspaper could see the light of day without interruption. He worked nights, damaged his health, and wore out his nerves, so that the word and the stand of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, like an infallible guide, would direct our people and lead them on the right path.
Unger Sako remained a faithful defender of the values of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation until his last breath. He was decent and honest. He did not get bogged down in everyday peti issues and gossip. He stayed away from self-serving approaches. He was a man of action. He believed in the importance of collective work and gathered young believers around him, with whom he shared his experiences and skills.
Speaking about Unger Sako means talking about the unique characteristics of the Dashnaktsutyun. It means talking about the modesty, service, sacrifice and unwavering dedication that are gradually missing from our midst. Unger Sako was endowed with all these qualities from the first days of his membership in the ARF "Zavarian" Student Association until he became part of the ARF "Dro" Committee in Lebanon and then the "Rostom" Committee in the United States.
Born in Aleppo, he spent most of his life in Lebanon and spent the last 28 years in the United States. Our dear friend, who settled in the United States, had a large number of readers and followers around the world, who waited for his writing day after day. Often, young people also waited for him, because he developed a rich literature for children and youth.
After settling in the United States, Unger Sako served the National Prelacy for 20 years, became a decent and diligent secretary, an upright and broad-minded person, respected and loved by all.
In recent years, he devoted himself entirely to journalism and submitted hundreds of valuable articles to the ARF press.
40 days ago, he embarked on his eternal journey with a troubled heart, in view of the current sad state of affairs facing the Armenian people and Armenia.
He set out with the anxiety of having tasted all the bitterness of national-party life.But he also set out with the mandate to value the ARF word and to align the ARF work with the word.
The legacy he left, his thoughts, his writings, and especially the bright image of the ARF he conveyed, will forever remain inspiring to all of us.
May the earth rest lightly upon you, dear friend Unger Sako.
Link: Խօսք՝ Քառասունքի, Յարգանքի Ու Երախտիքի (Սարգիս Մահսէրէճեանի Յիշատակին),
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