Armen Dorian was born Hrachia Surenian in Sinop in the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire on 28 January 1892.

[1][2][3] Dorian moved to the capital Constantinople where he received his early education at the Pangaltı Mekhitarist Armenian School.

[1] After finishing his education, Dorian traveled to France in 1911 and continued his studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

[1][4][5] It was said of Dorian that "symbolists during that time in France had never seen a youth with such a fervent vigor with a majestic writing style that incorporated such beautiful dreams..."[3] Immediately after his graduation from the Sorbonne in 1914, Dorian returned to Constantinople where he became a teacher and taught French and Armenian literature.

[7] Armen Dorian was initially sent to Çankırı where he and other Armenian intellectuals were imprisoned.