One of the revered heroes of the French Resistance during World War II, Missak Manouchian will be reinterred in the hallowed halls of the Paris Panthéon by the decree of French President Emmanuel Macron, on February 21, 2024. Manouchian’s remains will be transferred from the Ivry-sur-Seine cemetery to the French national monument in the Latin Quarter of Paris.
The French refer to this esteemed act as “pantheonization,” an honor reserved for the nation’s most distinguished personalities. Luminaries such as Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile Zola, Marie Curie and others are among the national figures resting in the Panthéon. The privilege of granting this distinguished recognition is held solely by the Presidents of France.
Missak Manouchian is the first immigrant, the first Armenian and the first Communist to receive this prestigious honor. The remains of Manouchian’s devoted wife, Meline, who also played an integral role in the French underground resistance against the Germans, will be reinterred alongside her husband in the Panthéon, though without the formal “pantheonization”. President Macron officially declared this momentous decision on June 18, 2023. The ceremony will be held on February 21, 2024, the date of the day 80 years later of the brutal execution of Manouchian and his comrades.
Born on September 1, 1906 in Adiyaman, Western Armenia, Missak Kevork Manouchian witnessed the hardship that befell the Armenians of his generation and experienced the hardships of life as a child. His father fell victim to the 1915 Armenian genocide and his mother perished during the deportations. Missak and his two brothers survived by finding refuge in Armenian orphanages in Lebanon. He was first in the Jibeil Orphanage (Byblos), and was later reunited with his brother Garabed at Jounieh’s Armenian National Orphanage, which became their home and first school.
In 1925, Missak ventured to France, first settling in Marseille and then moving to Paris. While working at the Citroen factory, he founded the literary magazine “Chank” in 1930. He was also a poet. His poems were published in the “Zankou” weekly, which he started in 1937.
Then came World War II and the German occupation of France in 1940. Missak actively participated in the French resistance movement against the German occupying forces, along with his beloved wife, Meline Manouchian. In 1943, under Manouchian’s leadership, the group carried out daring attacks against the enemy. However, in November 1943, Manouchian was captured, tortured, and ultimately executed along with 21 of his brave comrades.
In recognition of his exceptional bravery and dedication, Missak Manouchian was posthumously awarded with the National Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit. Streets and squares in Paris, Marseille, Valence, and Yerevan are named after him and stand as testaments to the enduring legacy of Manouchian and his revered group.
A documentary in the making
Paris-based journalist and documentary maker Katia Giragosian — the granddaughter of Meline Manoushian’s sister Armenouhi — is on a special visit to Lebanon and is deeply immersed in the process of creating a documentary film about the remarkable life of Missak Manouchian. She is researching the story of Missak and his brothers Haig and Garabed, the three children who miraculously survived the genocide in the Armenian orphanages of Jibeil and Jounieh.
Our meeting with Katia Giragosian at the “KOHAR” library in Beirut provided a unique opportunity to delve into the familial world of the Manouchian family. Katia’s childhood was shaped by the fascinating stories her grandmother Armenouhi told about Missak and her great-aunt Meline. The fondly shared tales about him kept his memory alive in the family. Sadly, Meline passed away in 1989. Katia vividly remembers the profound impact of the stories shared by her grandmother’s acquaintances, Diran Vosgerichian and Rupen Melik, who would often reminisce about Missak. Over time, these stories became an integral part of Katia’s life, and her family’s history transformed into her own legendary world, with Missak and Meline becoming her revered idols.
As a passionate young student of cinema, Katia aspires to translate her deep emotional connection to the Manouchian couple into a tangible medium. She has embarked on her journey to create her first documentary film, delving into Missak’s extraordinary life and legacy. In 2006, she organizes an exhibition in Paris, presenting the Manouchian family archives and previously unseen letters, which garnered immense appreciation from the public. When Didier Daeninckx, the well known author of “Missak,” saw the Manouchian archives, “he was in awe,” recalls Katia. “He said this is like Alibaba’s cave,” mysterious and legendary.
In 2014, as the 70th anniversary of the execution of the Manouchian group approached, a surprise unfolded. To the astonishment of many, the French President, François Hollande at the time, did not include Missak Manouchian’s name among his list of personalities slated for “pantheonization”. This sparked a campaign of petitions directed at the Élysée Palace. Katia Giragosian explains that a few years ago, she was contacted by Jean-Pierre Sakoun, the president of Unité Laïque that aimed to present a petition to the Élysée Palace. Given her direct connection to the campaign, she happily joined the committee.
The campaign had been successful. A few months ago, they were summoned to the Élysée Palace for a meeting with President Macron’s remembrance adviser, Bruno Roger-Petit. At the meeting, Missak’s unwavering libertarianism, humanism, and universalism were praised and the significance of his pantheonization discussed. Their earnest plea was met with acceptance. They were subsequently invited to a second meeting, this time with President Macron himself. During this one-hour meeting, they shared stories about Missak and Meline. Shortly thereafter, the historical announcement was made on June 18, leading to the decision to pantheonize Missak on February 21, 2024.
“Our joy knows no bounds for Missak and Meline, for France, and for Armenians. This historic pantheonization marks the first time a French immigrant and an Armenian has been honored in this esteemed manner. The pride we feel transcends borders and ideologies, extending to all the French, all the Armenians, and all the freedom enthusiasts worldwide. Missak and Meline have become cherished national symbols, representing the enduring spirit of courage, sacrifice, and dedication to the pursuit of liberty. This moment is a source of immense celebration and honor,” Katia Giragosian passionately emphasized, expressing her deep admiration and pride for the profound recognition of her heroic ancestors.
The idea of a documentary has been brewing in Katia Giragosian’s mind for a long time. She patiently waited a suitable and opportune moment to bring it to fruition. She explained that while others are also working on similar projects, her documentary would be distinct and personalized, intimately intertwined with the history of her own family., “Their legacy flows in my veins,” she says, “making this film is not just a tribute, but an original reflection of our shared heritage.”
“I am immensely proud of Missak and Meline. They steadfastly chose their path with unwavering faith and never compromised their principles. They demonstrated extraordinary dedication, even sacrificing their own child on the altar of freedom, as Meline was pregnant during the resistance fights and tragically lost her child. Yet, their profound commitment to liberty and justice became a guiding light for countless children, leaving behind a powerful legacy for future generations to embrace the love of freedom and passionately fight for its preservation,” concluded Katia Giragosian.
Varouj Tenbelian
July 21, 2o23
