Vocals - Christina Issa
Dhol - Marina Terteryan

Giligia is one of the most beloved Armenian folk patriotic songs. It is like a national hymn about longing for and loss of our ancient homeland, especially for diasporan Armenians after the 1915 Armenian genocide. This song specifically speaks about Giligia (Cilicia), a medieval Armenian kingdom reigning until approx 1375 that today falls in modern-day Turkey after being captured in the 1915 genocide. It was a refuge for Armenians following many invasions by other countries prior to 1915 and was a stronghold through it all, despite being in Turkey today it remains ethnically mostly Armenian and remains a symbol of resilience for Armenians worldwide. 


GILIGIA LYRICS:

When doors of hope are opened wide,
 And dreary winter flees away,
 Our beauteous Armenia
 Beams forth in glad and smiling day;
 When swallows to their nests return
 And trees put on their leaves so bright
 I yearn for my Cilicia,
 The land where first I saw the light.

I’ve seen the wide Vonarian fields
 And cedar-clad Mount Lebanon,
 Italian shores and Venice fair,
 Where gondolas are gliding on;
 There’s nothing like our Cyprian isle,
 No spot on earth can be so bright,
 I yearn for my Cilicia,
 The and where first I saw the light.

There comes to each a time of life
 When all our hopes have gone at last,
 The poor soul longs and strives no more;
 And dwells alone upon the past;
 The, when my breaking harp, unstrung
 Shall sing to hope a last good-night,
 I’ll sleep in my Cilicia,
 The land where I first saw the light.


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GILIGIA TRANSLITERATION:

Yerpvor patsvin trner louso

Yev mer yergren pakh da tsmer,

Chknagh yergirn mer Armenyo

Yerp paileh yur kaghtsrig orer,

Yerpvor dzeedzern eer pouyn tarna,

Yerpvor dzarern haknin derev’

Tsangam desnel zim Giligia,

Ashkhar’ vor ints yedour arev.

Desi tashderen Souryo,

Liyarn Lipanan yev yur mairer,

Desi zergirn Idalyo,

Venedig yev yur gondolner,

Gughzi nman chik mer Gibrya,

Yev voch meg vayrn eh artarev

Keghetsig kan zim Giligia,

Ashkharh’ vor ints yedour arev.

Hasag muh ga mer genats mech,

Oor amenain eeghts g’avardi,

Hasag muh oor hokin ee dench’

Hishadagats yur garodi.

Horjam knarn eem tsrdana,

Sirouyn dalov verchin parev

Yertam nenchel him Giligia,

Ashkhar’ vor ints yedour arev.

Lyrics: Nahabed Rousinian

Giligia

Vocals - Christina Issa
Dhol - Marina Terteryan 

Christina Issa

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