Tag Archive for: Vartanants

A LEGACY OF FAITH AND COURAGE

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Ghevont, the priest, and his clergy brothers. In the fifth century, when our people faced one of the greatest threats in their history and the Persian Empire sought to erase Armenia’s Christian identity, St. Ghevont and his clergy brothers stood boldly with the Armenian army for their faith and their nation, defying impossible odds.

On the eve of the Battle of Avarayr, May 24, AD 451, when the enemy was closing in, St. Ghevont gathered the soldiers, celebrated Badarak, administered Holy Communion, and even baptized those who had not yet been received into the church. And with his words, he reminded them about the love of God and that no battle, no hardship, not even death itself, could separate them from His love.

Read more

VARTAN MAMIGONIAN

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.

Read more

ST. LEON AND HIS COMPANIONS

Today, as we remember St. Leon (Ghevont), the priest, and his companions, we are reminded of the profound sacrifice and unwavering faith that have shaped our history and sustained our Armenian spirit through the ages. St. Ghevont’s life and actions during the Vartanantz war stand as a beacon of courage and divine commitment, illuminating the path of righteousness for all of us, especially those called to serve in the priesthood.

Read more

VARTANANTS: FROM AVARAYR TO NVARSAG

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 …

Read more

DEATH OF VARTAN MAMIGONIAN

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)

Read more

VARTANANTS CELEBRATED AT ST JOHN

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….

Read more

VARTANANTS PROGRAM IN MILWAUKEE 2011

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.

Read more