Society

Seroj is one of the very few people in Akhalkalak who has two homes: one in this life-on Rustavel street- and the other at the Akhalkalak cemetery. As he likes to say: “I live in this world and the other world.” He takes each guest to the cemetery. He has built two graves for himself and his wife right next to the graves of his parents and grandparents. Seroj has placed a polished stone and the pictures of him and his wife, along with their birth dates: Hakobyan Seroj-1932- and Hakobyan Manushak-1933-. He has not inscribed the death dates. That is left for their daughter to do. “Since I did not have a boy, I decided to make the cemetery myself so it would not be a burden on my daughter’s shoulders. I had the means for doing it, so I went and made two graves for me and my wife. My wife agreed and said that it is better that we do it so that our children don’t have to suffer later on.”

It is a man’s job to build a cemetery. He has to find the stones, give it to a master, check to see how he polishes it, find a painter so he can engrave the photos neatly and bargain with all the workers. In 1994, Seroj did everything by himself since he had saved some money. He did not hire just anyone to engrave the pictures on the grave. He hired an “artist” from Yerevan.

Other people besides Seroj have also engraved their pictures and birth dates on their graves. They have left the death dates for their children to do. Their graves are a little different. Their personal information is engraved next to their deceased wife or husband, their grave is not empty because there is at least one buried. Seroj’s grave is totally empty and ready for someone to enter.

“This is my permanent home, we are always welcome here, this is our main landing my brother,” says Seroj looking at his black polished stone. As to what will happen in his permanent life, he has no idea and does not make any predictions either: “I can’t say exactly. How should I know? Whatever happens, happens. I can live alone. If you are some with a pure heart, then you can rest in peace.”

He is certain that he will rest in peace because he has never caused any harm to anyone. He has worked for 45 years as a taxi driver. He believes in God and is a follower of all traditions: Easter, baptisms, sacrifices, etc. He always keeps holy pictures in his pocket. “I swear to God, I have kept Christ’s picture in my pocket all my life and thank God that nothing bad has happened to me, I have worked as a taxi driver for 45 years. I have met all kinds of people in my taxi but I have not been hurt from anyone.”

The former taxi driver is currently a pensioner. But he can not live only on that pension because all he gets is 15 lar ($7.5 dollars). Currently he works at the Akhalkalak market as a trader. He sells sieve and other items. Isn’t building a grave drawing him closer to death and isn’t he scared to die? “No man” Seroj says, laughing, “it draws you close or not, whether you get scared or not, when death comes knocking at your door, you have to open it. The important thing is how long you manage to live. Live each day to the fullest. Love people and be loved. You were born into this world and like everyone, you have to die. Even if you live one year or a hundred years, you are going to die.’

On the grave, there is a sign of respect engraved with an inscription: “From your grandchildren”. It’s OK if the children did not make that, how could they? They were so young. But the passer-by will see that and think that the person who died was so respected and honorable that his grandchildren have built a grave for him. Instead of building a grave, the grandchildren and daughter always check up on the grave and clean the area. On Easter and Memorial Day, as well as other church holidays, the whole family comes and sits near the “permanent” homes of their parents. They eat and drink in memory of the deceased.