arpiar arpiarian was born in 1851 aboard a ship as his parents, who were originally from akn (an armenian town on shore of the euphrates prior to the armenian genocide), were traveling from samsun to constantinople. the family settled in the suburb of ortaköy, where arpiar attended the tarkmanchats (թարգմանչաց) armenian school. in 1867, he was sent to venice to attend the murat-raphaelian (մուրատ-ռափայէլեան) school. at murat-raphaelian, he studied armenian language and history under the tutelage of ghevond alishan. he also became familiarized with french and italian literature. he graduated from the school and returned to constantinople where he was offered a secretarial position at the armenian patriarchate. during this time, he also worked as an accountant. however, arpiarian's true calling was journalism and literature.