Stories and paintings by Alen J Salerian
My name is Alen J Salerian M.D.
I am a painter from Ararat energized
by ARA GULER’S ARARAT
I have been touched by Bitlisian’ s extraordinary heritage dating back to 7th century BC. On August 8, 2014, five streets were named “William Saroyan” in Bitlis(Turkish) Bagesh (Armenian) Bidlis (Kurdish) (population: 53,023; 15 km from Lake Van in the valley of the Bitlis River)
YUCEL SULUKAYA, his wife Fatma, daughter Meriyem, and sons Sabri and Ali, of Saroyan roots, have been my friends for several years.
Yucel at Church, Salerian AJ, oil pastel
Ali, Sabri, Salerian AJ, pastel
Bitlis dates back to 7th century B.C.
On a cold, wintry day a donkey wandered down the valley below. The donkey’s frozen body was discovered in the spring, hence the name Bagh Esh, or “Cold Donkey.”
Baghesh – an important fortress of the Kingdom of Armenia, noted by medieval writers Anania Shirakatsi and Vardan Areveltsi – guarded the Baghesh Pass, linking the southern reaches of the Armenian plateau to northern Mesopotamia.