The TV Presentation of Hermine Avagyan’s Book “Farewell Eyes” (Video)

According to Knarik Jalatyan, Head of Programs at the Amrots National Development Foundation, preserving and sharing the history of the people of Artsakh is a central mission of their work.

“Artsakh and projects dedicated to Artsakh are of great importance to us. That is why we decided to sponsor this book. Our foundation is built on four pillars: homeland, language, faith, and values. Through literature, we can artistically present the history and reality of the people of Artsakh.”

Jalatyan also highlighted the foundation’s "Tsil" Young Creators’ Contest, which promotes writing in Armenian dialects, Western Armenian, and Eastern Armenian. Hermine Avagyan is one of the writers supporting the contest, which will take place in September, encouraging young creators to write and express themselves in Armenian.

One of the book’s first readers, songwriter, singer, and translator Lilit Bleyan, shared her impressions, noting that while the book depicts deeply painful experiences, it ultimately has a therapeutic effect.

“At first, we encounter the heavy, indescribable stories of war and displacement, which Hermine masterfully conveys with her delicate writing. But as we move through the book, we return to the past, to a time when people lived peacefully, never imagining they would be forced to leave their homeland.”

Bleyan also reflected on the past discussions about the "status quo" in Artsakh, questioning whether enough had been done to protect and sustain peace.

“Publishing Artsakh authors is essential because their books serve as living testimonies of Artsakh life. Hermine’s writing does not exaggerate or embellish reality, yet she presents it with striking beauty.”

For Hermine Avagyan, the book was born out of personal pain. Separated from her family during the Artsakh blockade, she turned to writing as a way to fill the emptiness in her soul.

“Beyond the bridge, there was an entire world I could no longer reach. A part of me, my youth, my dreams, remained on the other side. Literature became my refuge. I never imagined these writings would become a book.”

She admitted that she hesitated to publish her work, unsure whether she was ready to share such painful and intimate stories.

“I submitted my manuscript on the last day of the competition because I realized that today, more than ever, we must talk about Artsakh on all platforms. Many readers have told me they saw themselves in my stories, which reinforces my responsibility to approach my writing with even greater care.”

For Hermine Avagyan, war is the greatest tragedy of humanity, and the only remedy for its wounds is love. Through her poignant and heartfelt storytelling, she reaches out to readers, offering them not just narratives of loss and displacement but also a testament to resilience and the enduring human spirit.