author
George H. Filian
1853–1942
An Armenian pastor, immigrant, and passionate advocate, George H. Filian brought personal experience to his 1896 account of Armenia’s history, culture, and persecution. His work combines historical storytelling with a heartfelt appeal for justice and survival.
1 Audiobook
Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an Armenian
by George H. Filian
About the author
George H. Filian (1853–1942), also known as George Harootune Filian, was an Armenian Protestant minister and writer. Born near Antioch, he arrived in New York in July 1879, studied theology at Oberlin and Chicago, and later served as a pastor in the United States. His experiences as a native Armenian and a clergyman shaped his lifelong interest in his homeland and its people.
Filian is best known for Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an Armenian, published in Hartford in 1896. The book surveys Armenia’s geography, history, religious traditions, and cultural life while documenting the violence and persecution faced by Armenians under Ottoman rule. On its title page, Filian describes himself as a native pastor banished by the Turkish government from Marsovan.
In 1900, he became the first Armenian pastor of California’s First Armenian Presbyterian Church in Fresno. He helped lead the congregation during its early growth and was associated with the construction of its first church building. Filian died in Los Angeles on July 23, 1942.