Saint Vartanants holiday marked today

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: Saint Vartanants holiday in memory of Armenian victims in Battle of Avarayr was marked today. A march has been organized from Yerevan St. Zoravor Church with the participation of Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, clergymen, young people, representatives of non-governmental and students' organizations. The participants moved to Khanjyan street, where the monument to Vardan Mamikonyan, one of the most famous heroes of the Armenian people, stands. The participants watched the cultural event held in the territory of the monument.

The Feast of Vartanants, commemorated on the Thursday preceding Great Lent, is both a religious and nationalistic one. It is a symbol of the conscience, the faith, and the general rebellion of Armenians against tyranny, and their effort to preserve their identity and freedom.

Battle of Vartanantz, was fought on May 26, 451 on the Avarayr Plain in Vaspurakan, between the Armenian Army under Saint Vartan and their Sassanid rulers. Although the Persians were victorious on the battlefield itself, they had heavy casualties and, following subsequent uprisings and guerilla warfare, the Armenians were eventually guaranteed religious freedom.