TERYAN (Ter-Grigoryan) Vahan, was born on February 9, 1885 in the village of Gandza (now region of Ninotsminda in Georgia). An Armenian poet, literary –political figure. Father of N. Teryan. He received his primary education in parochial school of 
Gandza, in the city schools of Akhalkalak, in Tiflis Gymnasium (1897-1899). Teryan studied in the Moscow Lazaryan Seminary (1899–1906), in historical-philological faculty of Moscow State University (1906–1913), in the faculty of Oriental Studies of St. Petersburg University (1813- 1917).
Teryan published his first verses in the journal of the seminary “Huys” edited by him. In 1908 in Tiflis, he published a collection of poems "Dreams at Dusk", which opened a new era in the history of the Armenian poetry. In 1910-1912 Teryan organized a literary circle in Moscow (P.Makintsyan, K.Mikaelyan, S. Khanzadyan, A.Myasnikyan) and published three volumes of literary and artistic almanac "Garun". In 1912 he founded the publishing house "Pantheon", which published the 1st volume of his book "Poems" in the same year. It includes the re-edited collection "Dreams of Dusk", as well as the new series of "Night and memories", "Golden Fairy Tale ", "Return". During the St. Petersburg period Teryan wrote and replenished the second volume of poems. On April 30, 1914 in Tbilisi, he delivered a report on "The Coming Day of Armenian Literature", which became a declaration of the Armenian literature of the modern period of the 20th century. Teryan, thus, marked the end of a cultural-historical period and the beginning of the new era.
In 1915-1916 Teryan took part in the creation of books "Poetry of Armenia" (in
Russian), compiled by V. Brusov and the "Collection of the Armenian Literature" (in Russian) edited by M. Gorky. Teryan hoped that the October Revolution it will save the Armenian people as well. In 1917 he joined the Bolshevik Party, was elected as a member of All-Russian Central Executive Committee. He worked in the People's Commissariat for Nationalities, headed the department of the Armenian affairs. In November 1917, he presented the draft report on the Turkish Armenia and "Decree about Armenia". In 1917-18 as an adviser of the Armenian affairs he was involved in the peace negotiations of Brest-Litovsk. In 1919 Teryan of Russia was sent to Central Asia on the important task of People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and died on the way.
Russian), compiled by V. Brusov and the "Collection of the Armenian Literature" (in Russian) edited by M. Gorky. Teryan hoped that the October Revolution it will save the Armenian people as well. In 1917 he joined the Bolshevik Party, was elected as a member of All-Russian Central Executive Committee. He worked in the People's Commissariat for Nationalities, headed the department of the Armenian affairs. In November 1917, he presented the draft report on the Turkish Armenia and "Decree about Armenia". In 1917-18 as an adviser of the Armenian affairs he was involved in the peace negotiations of Brest-Litovsk. In 1919 Teryan of Russia was sent to Central Asia on the important task of People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and died on the way.Teryan launched his reform activities in the years when the global art and culture 
experienced a “period of artistic revolution”. The art was given a certain direction that was reflected in the works of Teryan by symbolist aesthetics. The works of Teryan radically altered the Armenian poetry. The Lyrical hero of poetry is not the peasant but the one who lives and suffers in the urban environment. The change in environment, emotions, attitude, language and system of images was due to this fact. The experience of the "pure lyrical poet" in particular feelings of hopeless love, sadness and suffering became universal. Creative activities of Teryan received its internal energy from national, public, tragic and complex fractures of human life. This was the period when the generation that lost the most important foundations of the existence was to find the meaning of life. The lyrical hero of Teryan searched this meaning in love.
experienced a “period of artistic revolution”. The art was given a certain direction that was reflected in the works of Teryan by symbolist aesthetics. The works of Teryan radically altered the Armenian poetry. The Lyrical hero of poetry is not the peasant but the one who lives and suffers in the urban environment. The change in environment, emotions, attitude, language and system of images was due to this fact. The experience of the "pure lyrical poet" in particular feelings of hopeless love, sadness and suffering became universal. Creative activities of Teryan received its internal energy from national, public, tragic and complex fractures of human life. This was the period when the generation that lost the most important foundations of the existence was to find the meaning of life. The lyrical hero of Teryan searched this meaning in love.Teryan consistently made the principle of poetic series perfect. By providing a variety of psychological experiences these series ("Dreams of Dusk", "Night and memories", "Golden Fairy Tale", "The Return," "Cat's Paradise", etc) create a comprehensive system of internal life of the lyrical hero. The aim of the poet's life becomes a constant search for love symbolizing the right to live.
Teryan touched upon the political life of his homeland in a new way. He saw the horrors of the First World War (1914-1918), the devastation of Western Armenia, bloody genocide and deportation of the Armenian people. it was already pointless to cling to the historical memories of the past, so he portrayed the present of his “unhappy” և “crying” homeland, poor villages and people “accustomed to sadness”.
Teryan made a revolution in the Armenian versification: along with poems written in syllabic system he created the works in syllabo-tonic structure. He made the Armenian poetic harmony perfect: foot verses, sounds’ structures. His language with
its purity and richness is the highest and perfect manifestation of Eastern Armenian language. Teryan created his own literary style and school.
its purity and richness is the highest and perfect manifestation of Eastern Armenian language. Teryan created his own literary style and school.Teryan was the author of literary critical and publicistic articles, did many translations. His letters comprises an integral part of his legacy.
School, street in Yerevan and other cities in Armenian and a school in Gandza are named after Teryan. In 1957 House Museum of Teryan was founded in his native village and since 1967 there are annual days dedicated to Teryan poetry. Teryan’s busts are in Yerevan (in front of the school of his name, 1965), in Orenburg (1974, sculptor Aram Shahinyan), in front of the house-museum of Teryan, the monuments in the Oval Park in Yerevan (2000, sculptor N.Karganyan), at Southwest district (2007, sculptor N.Nikogosyan). Vahan Teryan died on January 7, 1920. He was buried in the now destroyed Armenian cemetery. As a symbolic grave a soil was taken from that cemetery in 1970 and buried in the Yerevan Komitas Pantheon.
Source - "Who is Who. The Armenians" Encyclopedia, Volume I, chief-editor Hovh. Ayvazyan, Yerevan, 2007.
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