A Photographic Tribute to Baydzar, One of Diyarbakir’s Last Armenians

By Weekly Staff
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (A.W.)—One of Diyarbakir’s last Armenians, 87-year-old Baydzar Eken, passed away at a local hospital on June 23. A month earlier, on May 23, the Armenian Weekly editors, joined by a small group of Armenian writers, filmmakers, and authors from across the U.S., visited with Baydzar at her apartment, located within the walls of the Mother Mary Assyrian Church in Diyarbakir. In late April, Baydzar and her husband Sarkis had renewed their vows at a ceremony officiated by the newly-elected Diyarbakir mayor Gültan K??anak.

Below we feature photographs of Baydzar and Sarkis, as well as snapshots from their family photo album.

Baydzar with her rosary beads (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

Baydzar and Sarkis (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

Baydzar and Sarkis with Armenian Weekly’s Diyarbakir correspondent Gulisor Akkum (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

A snapshot from Baydzar’s family album showing Sarkis and Baydzar (photo by Bared Maronian)

A snapshot from Baydzar’s family album (photo by Bared Maronian)

A snapshot from Baydzar’s family album (photo by Bared Maronian)

A photograph of Baydzar and Sarkis on their wedding day hangs on the wall of their apartment (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)