Vratsian was born Simavon Grouzian in the village of Metz Sala (Bolshiye Saly) near Nor Nakhichevan in the Russian Empire (now Nakhichevan-on-Don) on 5 April 1882 (March 24 by the Julian calendar).

[1] When he was five years old, his family settled among Cossacks in the Kuban region, although they soon returned to Metz Sala at the insistence of Vratsian's mother, who wanted her children to receive an Armenian education.

Vratsian returned to Nor Nakhichevan as an ARF operative and took part in the 4th General Congress of the Dashnaktsutiun at Vienna in 1907, where he supported the adoption of socialism in the party program.

He earned his teaching credentials but was instructed to flee Russia before completing his law degree due to increased repression of ARF members by the Tsarist authorities.

[1] He went first to Constantinople and then to Erzurum, where he was invited to train Armenian teachers at the Sanasarian Academy and teach history at a secondary school for girls.

After the resignation of the government and the failure of Hovhannes Katchaznouni to form a coalition, Vratsian accepted post of prime minister on 23 November 1920.

[1] However, this republic only lasted around 40 days; in July he escaped to Persia with his bodyguards and aides, leaving his wife and child with American Near East Relief worker Dr. Clarence Ussher.

He finally settled in Beirut, Lebanon in 1952, where he was principal of and taught courses at the Collège Arménien (Nshan Palandjian Jemaran), one of the main schools of the Armenian diaspora.

He also mentions in his memoirs that his grandmother died aged 116, but that it cannot be proven since most countries didn't start recording dates of birth until the year 1900.

He also writes in his memoirs (Keankʻi ughinerov) about his rich maternal uncle Mikishka, and estimates that his net worth in several millions of dollars.

He describes his friendship with prominent figures of the Armenian national movement such as Rostom, Hamazasp, Andranik, Armen Garo, Aram Manukian, among others.