PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
January 30, 2007
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PROGRAM AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL TO HIGHLIGHT COMMITMENT OF STS. VARTANANTZ
New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral will commemorate Sts. Vartanantz Day
with a Divine Liturgy, program, and dinner on Thursday, February 15, 2007.
The Divine Liturgy will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and
program at 7:30 p.m. in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.
Speaking this year are Maria Derderian and Greg Andonian, seminarians at the
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary of New Rochelle, NY. They will speak on the
power of the message of Sts. Vartanantz.
"It is a message of commitment and sacrificed that permeated the childhood
homes of each of the speakers," said Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
cathedral. "That commitment to the Armenian faith passed from their
grandparents to their parents to them. It moved them so much that they are
now taking up positions of leadership in our church family."
The day is being planned in participation with the Mid-Atlantic Region of
the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
MARYTER FOR FAITH
Sts. Vartanantz Day commemorates the Battle of Avarayr in 451 and the
martyrdom of the Armenian Christian soldier St. Vartan and his soldiers and
peers.
The battle came as Armenia was divided between the Byzantine Empire in the
West and the Persian Empire in the East. Armenia was caught in the middle of
these two great powers. Seeking to increase its influence, the Persian
Empire wanted the Armenians to renounce Christianity and embrace their
religion of Zoroastrianism.
Some Armenian leaders approved of conversion, though mostly as a way to
increase their own political power. The Armenians, under the leadership of
Catholicos Hovsep, met at the Council of Ardashad to decide how they would
answer the Persian demands. They drafted letters protesting these demands.
Amazed at this response, the Persian king Hazgerd called the Armenian
leaders to Persia in an effort to convince them that converting would be in
their best interest, but this effort failed. The Persians sent their priests
and soldiers to Armenia to tear down Christian churches and build new
temples, but they were turned out by humble groups of unarmed protestors,
including Fr. Ghevont.
Finally, the situation deteriorated into war. On the field of Avarayr in the
year 451, the Armenians fought the Persians in a battle. The Persians
outnumbered the Armenians five to one, and the Armenian fighters were
slaughtered.
"The day is remembered because it is an illustration of the Armenian
struggle to be free Christians when the world wanted our ancestors to give
up their faith," Fr. Chevian said. "Vartanantz also teaches us about
courage and standing for our faith, because ultimately our people were
successful."
After years of fighting, the Treaty of Nuvarsag was signed between the
Persians and the Armenians, thanks to St. Vartan’s nephew, Vahan Mamigonian,
who had continued resisting the Persian threat in many different ways for
several years. The treaty brought freedom of worship to the Armenians and
provided improved human rights.
PROGRAM OF FAITH
The Vartanantz Day Divine Liturgy will be at 6 p.m. in New York City’s St.
Vartan Cathedral, 630 Second Ave. at 34th St. in Manhattan.
The following program and dinner, at 7:30 p.m., will feature remarks by
seminarians Maria Derderian and Greg Andonian, as well as a dramatic
presentation by students in the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum program.
Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under.
The events are being planned in participation with the Mid-Atlantic Region
of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
— 1/30/07