Pertch Proshian

Perch Proshyan (, born Hovhannes Ter-Arakelian; – 23 November 1907) was an Armenian writer and educator.

Biography

Proshian was born in a tailor's family in Ashtarak. He received his primary education at his hometown's parish school, at the monastic school of Mughni (1849–52), and, briefly, at state schools in Erivan (Yerevan). In 1856, he graduated from the Nersisian School of Tiflis (Tbilisi), where, according to Sergey Sarinian, his patriotic-democratic views formed under the influence of educator Petros Shanshian. After studying for one year at Tiflis's state gymnasium, Proshian returned to Ashtarak in 1857 and was appointed inspector of the parish school. He also acted as the secretary of a local church official.

In 1859, Proshian went to Tiflis, where he taught a preparatory class at the Nersisian School. He actively participated in the founding of the Armenian professional theater and in the establishment of girls' schools in Tiflis, Shusha, Agulis, Astrakhan and elsewhere. He worked as a teacher in different parts of the South Caucasus and drafted school charters. In 1879, he was invited to Ejmiatsin and was appointed inspector of the Armenian parochial schools run by the Church dioceses of Yerevan and Kars. He held this position until 1881. He translated an Armenian gospel from Classical into vernacular Armenian, for which Catholicos Kevork IV awarded him with the title of Master of Theology. In 1887, he returned to Tiflis. He died in Baku and was buried in the Khojivank Armenian Cemetery.