Cristopher Patvakanian
Writer - In the Shadow of Mount Khustup
Join Cristopher Patvakanian as he discusses his experience as an East Coast Armenian, his journey to Syunik in search of his family history, and how the stories he uncovered inspired his debut novel, In the Shadow of Mount Khustup
- Patvakanian was born and raised on the East Coast in Boston, Massachusetts.
- He attended Watertown High School and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics and Government. During his time as an undergrad, he served as the President of the Harvard Armenian Students Association and wrote an award winning thesis about Armenian diaspora investment.
- Cris has roots from, among many places, Syunik
- which is the southernmost region of Armenia. His latest book, In the Shadow of Mount Khustup, is inspired by a journey he made to the cities of Goris and Kapan in the Syunik region in 2023, and shares the beauty, culture, and dialect of stories of the Armenian people of the southern region of the country.
- In the Shadow of Mount Khustup is a novel that takes place in Kapan, Syunik and tells the story of a 2020 war veteran, Khatchik Lazaryan, who has grown up in Yerevan but returns to his native village to work at the mines. Little does Khatchik know, moving back to the land of his ancestors will reignite a spark with his first love, Siranoush, who is unfortunately engaged. But, their spark is undeniable, and how they come to terms with this predicament will keep you on the edge until the very last page.
- The story is inspired by true events and people Patvakanian met, and hopes to inspire more investment, tourism, and research in the southern region of Armenia. Cristopher aspires to one day make the book into a screenplay and eventually a film.
- He attended Watertown High School and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics and Government. During his time as an undergrad, he served as the President of the Harvard Armenian Students Association and wrote an award winning thesis about Armenian diaspora investment.
- Cris has roots from, among many places, Syunik
- which is the southernmost region of Armenia. His latest book, In the Shadow of Mount Khustup, is inspired by a journey he made to the cities of Goris and Kapan in the Syunik region in 2023, and shares the beauty, culture, and dialect of stories of the Armenian people of the southern region of the country.
- In the Shadow of Mount Khustup is a novel that takes place in Kapan, Syunik and tells the story of a 2020 war veteran, Khatchik Lazaryan, who has grown up in Yerevan but returns to his native village to work at the mines. Little does Khatchik know, moving back to the land of his ancestors will reignite a spark with his first love, Siranoush, who is unfortunately engaged. But, their spark is undeniable, and how they come to terms with this predicament will keep you on the edge until the very last page.
- The story is inspired by true events and people Patvakanian met, and hopes to inspire more investment, tourism, and research in the southern region of Armenia. Cristopher aspires to one day make the book into a screenplay and eventually a film.
In the Shadow of
Mount Khustup
Mount Khustup
Sometimes the hardest battles begin only after the war is over.
Returning to his hometown of Kapan after the 2020 war, the young protagonist hopes to leave the past behind and rebuild the life that was taken from him. Instead, he finds a city that has changed as profoundly as he has.
Among its familiar streets and the silent presence of Mount Khustup, he comes face to face with his first love—the woman he never forgot. But she is now promised to another.
Caught between memory and duty, love and loss, he must confront the wounds that no battlefield could heal. As the shadows of war linger over every choice, he discovers that the greatest struggles are often fought within the human heart.
In the Shadow of Mount Khustup is a story of love, sacrifice, and the search for hope after unimaginable loss. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Kapan and the timeless silhouette of Mount Khustup, it is a deeply human drama that explores the price of survival and the enduring power of love.
Returning to his hometown of Kapan after the 2020 war, the young protagonist hopes to leave the past behind and rebuild the life that was taken from him. Instead, he finds a city that has changed as profoundly as he has.
Among its familiar streets and the silent presence of Mount Khustup, he comes face to face with his first love—the woman he never forgot. But she is now promised to another.
Caught between memory and duty, love and loss, he must confront the wounds that no battlefield could heal. As the shadows of war linger over every choice, he discovers that the greatest struggles are often fought within the human heart.
In the Shadow of Mount Khustup is a story of love, sacrifice, and the search for hope after unimaginable loss. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Kapan and the timeless silhouette of Mount Khustup, it is a deeply human drama that explores the price of survival and the enduring power of love.
You can purchase the book via personal message on Instagram, at Bookinist stores in Yerevan, and at Bookins and Syun bookstores in Kapan