Marriage and heirs

  In 1838, while working as an inspector of the provincial school in Tiflis, Kh. Abovyan met eighteen-year-old Emilie Looze. Soon they decided to marry. Being representatives of different religions, they needed a special permission of the chiefs of Christian and Lutheran religions in order to get married. Their marriage ceremony took place on December 10, 1839 at an Armenian church and was confirmed by a document called “Dashn” (marital contract), which became official with the signatures of Khachatour and Emilie, two Armenian and one German witnesses. The couple had two children: Vardan and Zarmandukht Abovyans.

Vardan Abovyan was born on 1840 May 30. After losing his father at the age of eight his bringing up was put on Emilie’s shoulders.  From the age of nine V. Abovyan  studied at Nersessyan School. In 1854-59 Vardan studied in Kharkov and in 1860 became the student of Derpt. Because of poor material state, he left his education unfinished, but with rectors mediation he passed exams and got teacher’s title. He taught Russian language, history etc. In 1875 he moved to Etchmiadzin, worked in Gevorgyan school for 5 years, and after in a parish school. He died in 1896 and was buried in the courtyard of St. Gayane Church. Vardan Abovyan’s wife was Katarine Yaralyan- Abovyan. They had eight children, three of them had died and only two daughters and three sons remained alive.

Zarmandukht Abovyan was born in 1843. Graduating from women gymnasium, she married a tax collector Bozhovsky, and in their joint life they had five children- 4 daughters and a son. Zarmandukht died in 1909.

 Emilie lived for twenty two years after her husband’s death and died in 1870.