Celebration of the Feast of St. Vartan the Warrior and His Companions in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
February 2016
On February 4, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of St. Vartan the Warrior and His Companions at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. On this day, the Armenian Church also celebrated the feast of the Naming Day of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
In observance of the feast, under the presidency of the Pontiff of All Armenians; Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranyan, Dean of the Monasteries of the Mother See.
In his sermon, His Grace Artak reflected on the important role of the sacred service of St. Vartan and His companions in the national-ecclesiastical life. He stated in part: “They were martyred for the sake of their greatest allies: God, Homeland and nation. Filled with the commandement of love, in 451 at Vardanants, the Armenians were defending their right to live with our Creator. While the Council of Chalcedon was discussing the issues of Christ’s sufferings and clarifying issues of authority and domination; the Armenian nation was rejecting the snakelike offer of the Persian King Yazdegerd II, and with their lives glorified our Lord Jesus; by their death confirming love and faith.
The Battle of Vardanants is one of the Armenian’s first cries of spirit against injustice, danger and evil. …Yes, an entire nation was inspired by the spirit of death-rejected martyrdom, using the following Bible passage as motto: “Who can seperate us from the love of Christ?…”.
Many historians say we won a moral victory, and some historians try to prove that we lost. However, examining the history and living in the present, I confidently say that we have won. For this matter, there is no need for the evidence of historians, we just have to be wary and see that we have remained Armenians – Christian Armenians with our church and our Homeland. Therefore, we have won the Vardanants war. Vardanants became the inspiration for the numerous victories of our people, whose focus turned to the battles of Sardarapat and Artsakh. The Vardanants educated and brought up generations of Armenians. Imbued by Avarayr, today our borders are preserved by young 18 year old men, in whose veins flow the self-sacrificing blood of Vardanants. With their strength, courage and self-sacrifice they not only surprise the treacherous enemy but impress us every day”.
Speaking about the challenges facing the Armenian nation, the celebrant stressed that there was no lack of “Yazdegerds” in the life of the Armenians both throughout history and today. With violence and humanitarian aid and even in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ they have tried and still try to apostate, to deny the faith and Homeland inherited by our holy apostles and Patriarchs. Although there have been and there are Vasaks (traitors) and people like them, who have tried to find ways to salvation by agreeing to the proposals of “Yazdegerds”; the Armenians have generally refused the “Yazdegerds” and their proposals and their so-called “salvation”.
The enemy still operates, with new masks and different working styles, but the essence has not changed, it remains the same. Without hesitation we have to reject them”, said His Grace, adding that the Armenian nation has always appreciated her selfless heroes, through baptizing their sons in their names and educating them with their virtue.
On behalf of the clergy and faithful, Bishop Artak congratulated His Holiness on the occasion of His Naming Day, and wished His Holiness a long and healthy life to shepherd the Armenian nation on their path to God.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Galpakyan, a Pontifical Prayer was offered before the Holy Altar of Descent.
The Clergy and the faithful raised their prayers to God asking for vibrancy for the Catholicosate and for the strength and good health of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and a peaceful and successful Pontificate.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by Diocesan Primates, Brotherhood members of the Mother See, Mr. Gabriel Chemberchyan, benefactor of Mother See, students of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and numerous pilgrims.
