Armenia & The Armenians

Armenia & The Armenians

THE WAR IN DEFENSE OF CHRISTIANITY

Indeed the first ever was in history, waged in defense of the Christian Faith was in 451 A.D. --The Vartanantz War, and commemorated annually for over 1500 years in Armenian churches worldwide.

When the Persian King Yezegrid II (Hazgerd II) ordered the Armenians to become Zoroastrian fire worshipers, they replied: "No one can dislodge us from this Faith; neither angels nor men, not even the fire or the sword or any horrible torture . . . your sword and our necks."

When Vartan Mamikonian, the Commander in Chief of the Armenian army, led his men to the battlefield of Avarair, in Ancient Armenia, he drew his sword and declared: "In the name of our Fatherland and our Faith, forward." At his side was Ghevont Yeretz, cross in his hand. Yeretz was the representative of the Armenian Church.

The Armenian force in this battle was crushed by the overwhelming might of unproportionately superior Persian forces. The Persians had 220,000 men flanked by elephants and strong cavalry. The Armenian army on the other hand could hardly muster 66,000 men and cavalry.

Among thousands who were destined to make the Supreme Sacrifice was the chief defender of the Faith -- Vartan Mamikonian himself. The sacrifice however, was not in vain, because thereupon the Persians renounced their plans to convert the Armenians by force.

The Armenians lost the unequal battle, but secured a great moral victory -- the survival of the Armenian race and its religion -- now the oldest Christian nation in the world.

In 885 A.D. the kingdom of Armenia was reestablished under Ashod Pakraduni, who was followed by Gagik Pakraduni (989-1020 A.D.).

The Pakraduni kingdom ushered in a golden age in Armenia in which culture, learning, trade and commerce prospered, but these followed a new conquest and the Armenian kingdom once again came to an end.