Vartan Mamigonian was the leader of the Armenians in the decisive battle of Avarayr, and although outnumbered, the Armenians put up a valiant defense. Vartan and many of his soldiers were killed, but the Persians suffered greater casualties and with this battle the Persians recognized the strong commitment the Armenians had for their Christian faith.
After the battle of Vartanants, a number of priests and deacons were abducted by the Persian king and imprisoned, tortured and martyred. Ghevont is revered as the leader of the group because he was an advisor to Vartan Mamigonian, and is remembered for the inspiring message he delivered on the eve of the battle of Avarayr. Ghevont, who was highly educated, assisted …
Every year, on the Thursday preceding the Great Lent, Armenians throughout the world celebrate Vartanants Day in commemoration of one of their most heroic struggles. It was a war of human rights between Zoroastrian Persia and Christian Armenia in the year 451. The cause was freedom of conscience, freedom of religion. In 387, Armenia came under the control of the then-two superpowers: the Byzantine and Persian empires. The Persian Empire had ambitions for world domination. It wanted …
The Armenian Church commemorates the 1,036 martyrs of the Vartanants War on Thursday before Poon Paregentan, while the Feast of Ghevontiants, two days before, commemorates the priests who also gave their lives in the defense of faith. However, the battle of Avarayr, the highlight of the Vartanants War, was fought on May 26, 451, the actual date when (click on heading to read more)
Despite a winter storm that dropped six inches of snow on Milwaukee, St. John the Baptist Armenian Church celebrated Ghevontiants and Vartanants as planned on February 16, 2023. The event brought Midwest clergy from the Diocese and the Prelacy together in a joint observation of a pivotal event from Armenian history….
In a talk at St. John Armenian Church of Milwaukee during its Feb. 27 observation of Vartanants, Dr. Levon Saryan provided the battle with its historical context, outlining the events that came before and after Avarayr.
