Hrayr Dzhoghk

Who was Hrayr Dzhoghk?

Hrayr Dzhoghk was an Armenian military leader, fedayee and teacher, part of the Armenian national liberation movement.

He was born in Aharonk, a village in the Western Armenian Taron province, in a priest's family. He graduated from the Surb Karapet Monastery school in the late 1880s, then studied at the United Armenian College and worked as a teacher in Sasun and Taron. He always wore the traditional hat of the people of Moush.

Hrair and Dzhoghk were his two pen-names, that he used when he contributed articles to Droshak Journal. He worked closely with Mihran Damadian, Hampartsoum Boyadjian, Serop Pasa, Kevork Chavush and Andranik Ozanian. By 1890 hed joined Social Democrat Hunchakian Party and becomes its active worker. Then accepts pseudonym Hrayr Tjokhk. In the spring 1894 went to Caucasus with the purpose of purchase of weapons, and then to Romania where he joined the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He believed in rebellion with the participation of the masses, and was one of the leaders of Sassun resistances in 1894 and 1904. By 1895 returned to Western Armenia with a group of 50 young men among which were Andranik Ozanian and Serop Aghpyur. Together with Tatul organized defense against slaughter in the area of Basen. In June, 1896 both were arrested and placed in prison of Erzurum; Tatul was hanged, Hrayr released on amnesty. Goes to Van where makes the plan of the organization of revolt, then in Sasun where alongside with Andranik is the main organizer and heads Sasun Uprising of 1904. During this defense, he is killed on April 13 in fight in village Gelieguzan. Has was buried in a court of local church near to Serob Paşa. Hrair and his comrade's bodies were buried by Andranik's soldiers, who came to help local population.