Lesing and Elmira: A Lifelong Journey of Friendship and Art

A 're-post" from "The World in Faces" by Alexander Khimushin:

Today, I found myself in the enchanting remote town of Berd, nestled in the mountains of Tavush Province of Armenia—a place I had never heard of until yesterday. I'm fortunate to be a guest of an extraordinary couple, Lesing (85) and Elmira (85) Agakaryan, who have welcomed me with open arms. As we sip on a delightful cup of freshly brewed coffee, I can't help but admire their vibrant jackets, knitted by Elmira in the 1970s using traditional Armenian patterns—a craft she has cherished all her life.

Once upon a time, Elmira’s family hailed from Berd, where an old family house stood abandoned for years after they moved to the capital, Yerevan. Little did Elmira know that she would one day return to restore that family treasure. Meanwhile, in Yerevan, Elmira's older brother, Wilhelm Matevosyan, became a celebrated Armenian author and art critic. At that time, Elmira was still a schoolgirl.

Lesing fondly reminisces, “We met in high school. I played the tar—a traditional string instrument—in the school band, while Elmira dazzled as a member of the dance troupe. She was breathtaking, and I fell in love the moment I saw her. We've been together ever since.” Over the years, Lesing earned a PhD in physiology and lectured at a university, while Elmira pursued a career in economics. Although their professional paths didn’t lead them into the art world, they were close friends with Wilhelm, who profoundly influenced Lesing's artistic journey. “One day, Wilhelm brought me a sketchbook and urged me to paint again. That rekindled my passion for art at the age of 50, and I’ve been painting for the last 35 years,” he shares. Elmira adds, “My creative path for decades has been traditional embroidery and knitwear, but sadly I had to stop last year due to eyesight issues.”

“After our dear brother and friend Wilhelm passed away, we made a life-changing decision to leave our full-time jobs in Yerevan,” Elmira explains. “We sold everything and returned to Berd, restoring my family home and establishing a free art school for local children. For the past 25 years, we've been living in Berd and running this school, nurturing many young talents. Currently, we have eight students aged 11 to 16.”

I was genuinely amazed to discover such a well-equipped, modern, and sunlit art school in this small and remote Armenian town. Thank you, Lesing and Elmira, for your selflessness and dedication to empowering local children! 

We spent a wonderful day together. As I wrapped up my visit, I couldn't help but ask one last question: After so many years together, what’s the secret to your enduring partnership?

Lesing and Elmira replied, “True friendship. They say men and women can't be friends, but we disagree. It's about two souls connecting. She’s a human being, and he's a human being. We always support each other—that’s what we call real friendship.”