Sanasarian College

The Sanassarian College (Armenian Սանասարեան վարժարան, Turkish Sanasaryan Koleji ) or Sanasarian College was an Armenian- institution of Higher Education in the city of Erzurum in the Ottoman Empire, which was founded in 1881 by the Armenian merchant Mgrdich Sanasarian.

Description

The university was regarded as a school of high quality and had trained in Germany teacher personnel; the College umfassze a nine -year course, which led to a higher educational status. The school existed until the genocide of the Armenians 1915/1916, as most of the teachers killed and the building was destroyed. The Sanassarian College was the leading institution for the Armenian culture and education in the eastern provinces during the years before the First World War.

The British explorer, writer and natural historian Isabella Bird's (1831-1904) described the school as follows:

"One of the most interesting sights in Erzerum is the Sanassarian College, founded and handsomely endowed by the liberality of merchant of Armenian. The fine buildings are of the best construction, and are admirably suited for educational purposes, and the equipments are of the latest and most complete description. The education and the moral and intellectual workout are of a very high type, and the personal influence of the three directors, who were educated in Germany and England, altogether " makes for righteousness. " The graduation course is nine years. The students, numbering 120, wear a uniform, and there is no distinction of class among them. They are, almost without exception, manly, earnest, and studious, and are full of enthusiasm and esprit de corps. Much 'may be hoped for in the future from the admirable moral workout and thorough education givenName in this college, Which is one of the few bright spots in Armenia. "

Legal status

In 1912, the College of Sanassarian was transferred to Sivas. In 1915 it was destroyed by the Turks.

The Patriarchate of Constantinople Opel the Armenian Apostolic Church turned to the court in Ankara for the return of the Sanassarian colleges. The property of the Sanassarian the College consisted of nine plots in Erzurum, a summer house and extensive farm land in the village Aghveren, two pieces of land in the village of Gez and a large commercial property, known as Sanasarian Han, in the district of Sirkeci of Istanbul. The trial is still pending.

Known graduates

• Karekin Pastermadjian
• Krikor Balakian
• Vartkes Serengülian