Where Did Sisian's 14 Factories Go?
Textile and cheese, lamps and basalt: Sisian's industrial past in people's memories
When a native of Sisian returns home from somewhere else and reaches Sisian, they say: "We've passed our Zanger" (Sisian Bells). Meaning, one can consider oneself already home. They say that after passing the Zangers, a a native of Sisian becomes more self-confident. Perhaps it's the air, or perhaps there is a mysterious force coming down through the centuries.
According to Movses Khorenatsi (5th-century Armenian historian known as the "father of Armenian history"), the name Sisian is connected to Sisak, one of the ancestors of the princely house of Syunik (a powerful Armenian dynasty that ruled the historical province of Syunik, located in present-day southern Armenia). In the works of historian-philologist Morus Hasratyan, the settlement of Sisian is mentioned from the 10th century onward — not under the name Sisian, but under the names Tsghuk, Sisavan, Sisakan, Ketovan, and Gharakilisa. The toponym "Sisian" first appears in the 13th century in the works of Kirakos Gandzaketsi. It was one of the centers of the Syunik principality, serving as a hub of trade and strategic routes connecting Armenia with Artsakh and Iran. However, in 1604, Sisian's population also fell victim to the mass deportation of Armenians to Iran organized by Safavid shah of Iran Shah Abbas I. As a result of this forced exile, Armenians from many provinces of Eastern Armenia, including Syunik, were forcibly relocated to Iran.
Photo by Anahit Minasyan
According to historian and journalist Henzel Arakelyan's book Sisian, the present-day population of Sisian formed later — after the resettlements of the 19th century. From 1828 onward, following the end of the Russo-Persian wars, Armenian families began moving to the Sisian area from various regions of Persia, particularly from Salmas and Khoy.
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April 1929. Gharakilisa, the district center of Sisian, is a pile of stones — no trees, no streets. By the roadside stands Syuni Monastery with a picturesque appearance, a cross atop its head.
According to Selbert Shabanyan, a resident of Brnakot village, Sisian has both "native" of Syunik and "newcomers." The natives are mainly from surrounding villages - Brnakot, Tolors, Hatsavan, Brnunis, Darbas, Lor, and other settlements. The newcomers settled here during the resettlements of 1828, arriving from various places, including the areas around Lake Van and Khoy.
Before that, the settlement was relatively sparsely populated. Only a few families lived there, including members of the Melik-Safrazyan clan from Brnakot. To this day, descendants of that clan continue to live in Brnakot village. The clan of historian Nikoghaos Adonts also originates from that village. It is no secret that Sisian has produced many intellectuals for Armenia. The first state school in Gharakilisa was established by Arshak Ghazaryan in 1882; that year the school had 52 students (S. Khanzadyan, Hayrenapatoom, Book I).
Before that, the settlement was relatively sparsely populated. Only a few families lived there, including members of the Melik-Safrazyan clan from Brnakot. To this day, descendants of that clan continue to live in Brnakot village. The clan of historian Nikoghaos Adonts also originates from that village. It is no secret that Sisian has produced many intellectuals for Armenia. The first state school in Gharakilisa was established by Arshak Ghazaryan in 1882; that year the school had 52 students (S. Khanzadyan, Hayrenapatoom, Book I).
Sisian, 1970s
From the family archive of Naira Karapetyan
From the family archive of Naira Karapetyan
The developing infrastructure in Sisian contributed to the city's progress. In 1936, an airport was opened in the city (Sero Khanzadyan, Hayrenapatoom, Book I). Although the old airport gradually became surrounded by residential neighborhoods as the city expanded, it continued to operate until 1986, when the new airport was officially put into service.
Sisian was not connected by railway to other cities of the republic, so the airport was of great importance not only for freight transport but also for local residents. For Sisian resident Lorik Vardanyan, the old airport was very important for the city.
Lorik Vardanyan about the old Sisian airport
Sisian resident Rafayel Tatoyan recalls: "There is one episode from my childhood memories that I remember very clearly. When we were still young, we used to go to the airport and play there. Then the airport moved and became military, but to this day we locals continue to call that place 'the airport site."
In 1982, construction of a new airport began near the city, with architect Robert Aydinyan as its designer. The local population was able to use the new airport until 1991, after which the airport came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.
In May 1953, old Gharakilisa becomes Sisian. And despite its long history, the settlement officially receives city status in 1974, for which the first master plan is created in 1976. According to it, the city center is reconstructed and new residential districts are built.
The neighborhood adjacent to the 6th–7th century Church of St. Hovhannes on the left bank of the Vorotan River is considered Sisian's oldest quarter. Even today, walking through the neighborhood, one can encounter colorful old houses preserved intact or partially modified. Some houses were rebuilt during Soviet times, then again during the independence period.
The Vardanyan family home was built in this neighborhood in the year Sisian gained city status. Lorik Vardanyan's husband, Zaven Vardanyan, built the house together with his brother.
Zaven Vardanyan was the sexton, candle seller, and guard of St. Gregory the Illuminator (or Syuni) Church for 33 years. Their children are well-known and beloved people in Sisian. One of their sons, Tatoul Vardanyan (Tatoul Syuni), is a historian and served as director of the N. Adonts History Museum in Sisian.
In 1982, construction of a new airport began near the city, with architect Robert Aydinyan as its designer. The local population was able to use the new airport until 1991, after which the airport came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.
In May 1953, old Gharakilisa becomes Sisian. And despite its long history, the settlement officially receives city status in 1974, for which the first master plan is created in 1976. According to it, the city center is reconstructed and new residential districts are built.
The neighborhood adjacent to the 6th–7th century Church of St. Hovhannes on the left bank of the Vorotan River is considered Sisian's oldest quarter. Even today, walking through the neighborhood, one can encounter colorful old houses preserved intact or partially modified. Some houses were rebuilt during Soviet times, then again during the independence period.
The Vardanyan family home was built in this neighborhood in the year Sisian gained city status. Lorik Vardanyan's husband, Zaven Vardanyan, built the house together with his brother.
Zaven Vardanyan was the sexton, candle seller, and guard of St. Gregory the Illuminator (or Syuni) Church for 33 years. Their children are well-known and beloved people in Sisian. One of their sons, Tatoul Vardanyan (Tatoul Syuni), is a historian and served as director of the N. Adonts History Museum in Sisian.
Photos of the Vardanyan home by Ruzan Mkrtchyan
During the Soviet years, on the right bank of the Vorotan River - which, according to Selbert Shabanyan, used to be a field - residential buildings were constructed and populated with industrial workers. Today, Getap (Riverbank) is Sisian's most densely populated neighborhood. The bridge connecting the two riverbanks was built in 1855. The new bridge, called "Kamarner" (Arches), was built in the 1970s.
During the Soviet Union years, industry and agriculture developed in Sisian. The first collective farm was organized in 1928 on the slopes of Ishkhanasar mountain and was called Noravan — so writes Henzel Arakelyan in his book Sisian. However, at the 2018 celebration of Noravan's 90th anniversary, Movses Babajanian, former head of Noravan village, told a different story about its founding. According to him, the village was driven like a wedge between neighboring Azerbaijani-populated villages. Noravan was created in 1928 exclusively for Armenians. A dairy processing plant was also built there.
There were 14 industrial enterprises operating in the Sisian region, as well as processing organizations (milk, meat, plant raw materials), collective farms (kolkhozy), and state farms (sovkhozy).
During the Soviet Union years, industry and agriculture developed in Sisian. The first collective farm was organized in 1928 on the slopes of Ishkhanasar mountain and was called Noravan — so writes Henzel Arakelyan in his book Sisian. However, at the 2018 celebration of Noravan's 90th anniversary, Movses Babajanian, former head of Noravan village, told a different story about its founding. According to him, the village was driven like a wedge between neighboring Azerbaijani-populated villages. Noravan was created in 1928 exclusively for Armenians. A dairy processing plant was also built there.
There were 14 industrial enterprises operating in the Sisian region, as well as processing organizations (milk, meat, plant raw materials), collective farms (kolkhozy), and state farms (sovkhozy).
Main Industrial Branches
The Vorotan hydroelectric complex, built in the 1960s, significantly boosted Sisian's economy by providing electricity to industrial enterprises and residents.
- Sisian's cheese factory, dairy plant, bread factory ("Sisian Hats"), and canning production served not only Sisian but all of Syunik.
- Light industry: a knitwear factory, a garment factory, and large-scale carpet production were opened as part of the USSR's centralized economy.
- Factories producing reinforced concrete structures, building materials based on basalt and other non-metallic minerals made use of local mineral resources.
Benik Hakobjanyan, former director of Sisian's textile factory, speaks about the city's industrial past. According to him, during the Soviet era the factory was one of the city's most important production centers, employing more than a thousand people. His management years coincided with the economic crisis of the 1990s, when production ties had broken down, markets were lost, and energy problems seriously disrupted the factory's operations. The factory continued operating only partially, with output volumes declining significantly.
After privatization in 1998, production was partially restored for a time. Operating with a reduced, smaller staff, the factory managed to export products abroad. Nevertheless, it ceased operations in 2002.
After privatization in 1998, production was partially restored for a time. Operating with a reduced, smaller staff, the factory managed to export products abroad. Nevertheless, it ceased operations in 2002.
Even in those years, the factory played an important social role by providing employment to locals and refugees from Baku. The main workforce consisted of women on maternity leave.
Garment factory, 1990
from the personal archive of Marieta Aghajanian
Sisian's Bread Museum
from Henzel Arakelyan's book "Sisian"
Sisian's Lamp Factory
from Henzel Arakelyan's book "Sisian"
The factory imported raw materials from China and Pakistan. Its products were in demand throughout the entire Soviet Union.
"98% of our production was exported to various countries of the Soviet Union, and only 2% stayed in Armenia. Even that was eventually collected and sent away somehow — the knitwear production was that saturated. There were many factories — in Yerevan, in Shirak region, in Kapan, in Goris, everywhere. The raw material, well, it's cotton — there was no cotton in Armenia, we imported it either as finished fabric or as yarn, which we then sent to the Maralik factory. They spun the thread, we wove the fabric, processed it, then turned it into products," recalls Benik Hakobjanyan.
Across all the factory's branches together, around 1,100 people worked. Each production workshop had its own tailors, master craftsmen, and foremen.
The factory even attempted to collaborate with Puma, but it did not work out. Today, all that remains of the factory are its walls and the trash heaps growing beside them. This completely ruined building, according to Sisanites, was looted. Everyone avoids naming names. They only say that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the machinery, tools, and much else were sold off piece by piece.
"98% of our production was exported to various countries of the Soviet Union, and only 2% stayed in Armenia. Even that was eventually collected and sent away somehow — the knitwear production was that saturated. There were many factories — in Yerevan, in Shirak region, in Kapan, in Goris, everywhere. The raw material, well, it's cotton — there was no cotton in Armenia, we imported it either as finished fabric or as yarn, which we then sent to the Maralik factory. They spun the thread, we wove the fabric, processed it, then turned it into products," recalls Benik Hakobjanyan.
Across all the factory's branches together, around 1,100 people worked. Each production workshop had its own tailors, master craftsmen, and foremen.
The factory even attempted to collaborate with Puma, but it did not work out. Today, all that remains of the factory are its walls and the trash heaps growing beside them. This completely ruined building, according to Sisanites, was looted. Everyone avoids naming names. They only say that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the machinery, tools, and much else were sold off piece by piece.
Former Sisian textile factory
photo by Gayane Mirzyan
photo by Gayane Mirzyan
Sos Harutyunyan started working at Sisian's lamp factory at age 15. The factory produced components for fluorescent lamps (ballasts/chokes). After working at the factory for four years while simultaneously studying at a technical college, he left for the Soviet army. After his service he returned to Sisian, finished the technical college, and continued working as a workshop foreman. Besides Sos Harutyunyan, his mother, brother, sister, and sister-in-law also worked at the lamp factory.
"The factory had 300 workers, which was a great help for Sisian — everyone received their salary on time and had no needs at all. We had many young people working there, who came to do internships so they could be accepted into higher education," recalls Sos Harutyunyan.
Today, in place of the lamp factory operates the Sisian Stone Factory. The buildings of the textile, building materials, and cheese factories are not in use. They have mostly been abandoned and looted. Everyone avoids naming names. They only say that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the machinery, tools, and much else were sold off piece by piece.
Sisian today is still at a crossroads of times. People live here, create, and develop. Despite the difficulties, Sisian again has the potential to grow — drawing on the experience of the past and on the people who live here today. And the expression "We've passed the Zangers" continues to remain a symbol of return and renewal.
"The factory had 300 workers, which was a great help for Sisian — everyone received their salary on time and had no needs at all. We had many young people working there, who came to do internships so they could be accepted into higher education," recalls Sos Harutyunyan.
Today, in place of the lamp factory operates the Sisian Stone Factory. The buildings of the textile, building materials, and cheese factories are not in use. They have mostly been abandoned and looted. Everyone avoids naming names. They only say that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the machinery, tools, and much else were sold off piece by piece.
Sisian today is still at a crossroads of times. People live here, create, and develop. Despite the difficulties, Sisian again has the potential to grow — drawing on the experience of the past and on the people who live here today. And the expression "We've passed the Zangers" continues to remain a symbol of return and renewal.
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