Half a Century Commemorating the Charitable Legacy of ‘Arsen Minasyan’ in Rasht

The people of Rasht commemorated the anniversary of the death of “Arsen Minasyan” and his charitable deeds in the city yesterday.

Arsen Minasyan was born in 1258 (Hijri solar calendar) in an Armenian family in Rasht. When he was a school-age child, during a harsh winter, he gave his own clothes to another child who was cold. His kindness became renowned during his youth and adulthood. By establishing the “Karun” 24-hour pharmacy as the country’s first round-the-clock pharmacy, he left a lasting name in Rasht city, and he would stay there late into the night, making medicines for patients.

The idea to establish this pharmacy came to him when Iran was in the midst of World War II, and people witnessed the death and killing of many. Witnessing the suffering and pain of Rasht’s people and the poverty of those who couldn’t even afford to buy medicine, prompted Arsen Minasyan to establish the “Karun” pharmacy and provide medicines free of charge to the needy. During World War II, he would stay awake until late at night to produce more medicines, and sometimes traveled to Tehran overnight to procure the necessary raw materials for medications.

Arsen, who learned the craft of making traditional medicines in Qazvin during his youth, returned to Rasht and pursued experimental pharmacy, selling his medicines at low prices and providing them free to the needy. Tehran University granted him an honorary doctorate in pharmacy for his humanitarian services, and he was able to establish the “Karun” pharmacy in 1319 (Hijri solar calendar). He pursued experimental pharmacy, sold his medicines at low prices, and provided them free of charge to those in need.

Now, approximately half a century has passed since the death of Arsen Minasyan, an Armenian philanthropist. He closed his eyes to the world around midnight on the 14th of Farvardin 1356 (Hijri solar calendar) in a charitable nursing home for the elderly and disabled in Rasht, an institution he himself was one of the founders of. His funeral was one of the most crowded ceremonies that the elderly of Rasht still remember, when a day after the Nowruz holidays, Muslim people carried the coffin of this Christian figure with prayers and buried him.

Unlike other Armenians of Rasht, Arsen Minasyan was not buried in the Armenian cemetery of Bulagh, but rather was laid to rest in the courtyard of the Armenian school in Rasht at the beginning of Saadi Street. A courtyard that contains only two gravestones, one being the tomb of Khoja Avadis, the founder of the Armenian church and school, and the other Arsen Minasyan’s, which demonstrated the importance and influential position of his character.

He was also one of the founders of the country’s first charitable nursing home for the elderly and disabled, and people of Rasht gather at his grave every year on the 14th of Farvardin and commemorate his charitable deeds.

“Abdolsattar Kakaii” also produced a documentary on August 22, 1397 (Hijri solar calendar) titled “Monsieur Arsen” that was screened in Rasht. This documentary focuses on the life and philanthropic activities of Arsen Minasyan, a charitable Armenian who lived in Rasht. Many people know Arsen as the founder of the country’s first 24-hour pharmacy named “Karun” and the first charitable nursing home for the elderly and disabled in Rasht, but the humanitarian services of this Armenian pharmacist physician were not limited to these two major works.

Abdolsattar Kakaii began his research for making this documentary in 1394 (Hijri solar calendar) and completed the filming of the documentary with some artists from Rasht in Esfand of that year. At the time of the screening of this documentary in the Khatam al-Anbiya complex hall, he commented on choosing this subject: “In a time when everyone is after profit, there are still people who sacrifice themselves for the vulnerable sectors of society. Noble humans who are in a way angels, and sacrifice their lives and financial income, and without expecting any return, give to others.”

While researching Arsen Minasyan, Mr. Kakaii becomes more acquainted with the people of Rasht, and his judgment about these people is that they are cultured. He says about the people of Rasht: “It is no wonder that from the hearts of these very people, a figure like Arsen emerges. Arsen was like all of you, and all of you are like Arsen.”

Now, years after his death, every year on the 14th of Farvardin after the Nowruz holidays, a commemoration ceremony for Arsen Minasyan is held in the courtyard of the Armenian school. In this ceremony, Arsen’s charitable deeds are recalled, and welfare officials and the management of the charitable nursing home for the elderly in Rasht also pay respects by attending the event, honoring his lasting achievements which became a movement throughout the country.

The name of Arsen Minasyan is placed alongside other philanthropists such as “Hossein Esteghamat,” “Dr. Hakimzadeh,” “the late Chini-Chian,” and “Ayatollah Zia Abadi,” who are the founders of the country’s first charitable nursing home for the elderly.

Although the old building of the Karun pharmacy, which was located at the beginning of Imam Street, was transferred to others and unfortunately demolished over the past two years, the license for this pharmacy under the same name “Karun” was transferred to the beginning of Elmalhoda Street in Rasht and continues to operate.