The Atlas Obscura Podcast Retracing A Grandfather’s Footsteps
Jan 15, 2026
Dawn Anahid MacKeen, an author and journalist, retraced her grandfather Stepan Miskjian's harrowing journey fleeing the Armenian genocide. She shares the gripping details of Stepan’s escape through the Ottoman Empire, including his experiences during the brutal marches into the Syrian desert and the impact of the alphabet parade incident. Dawn discovered new details through his journals and emphasizes the importance of resilience and forgiveness, reflecting on how her family's legacy shapes their views on survival and historical memory.
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Discovery Of Stepan’s Journals
- Dawn Anahid MacKeen discovered her grandfather Stepan's journals in her 30s which revealed his detailed account of survival during the Armenian genocide.
- Finding additional missing journals filled gaps and provided a roadmap she used to reconstruct his journey.
Systematic Deportation And Death Marches
- Armenians were labeled as traitors and forcibly deported during World War I, causing mass marches into the Syrian desert where over a million perished.
- Stepan endured conscription, forced labor, escapes, and death along the marches before reaching the desert and continuing to survive against the odds.
Saved By A Syrian Sheikh
- Stepan hid his Armenian identity and approached Sheikh Hamoud Ogla, who immediately knew he was Armenian and took him in as family.
- The sheikh fed, sheltered, and entrusted Stepan with roles that restored his dignity and ensured his survival.
