The Battle of Avarayr by Harout Demirchyan.
Every year on the Thursday preceding Great Lent, Armenians
throughout the world commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Avarayr (A.D.
451), in which the soldiers of Armenia, under the leadership of St. Vartan
Mamigonian, confronted the Persian Empire, which aimed to convert the world's
first Christian nation to Zoroastrianism.
On the field of Avarayr, outnumbered Armenian fighters faced
a mighty Persian army. St. Vartan and his companions saw a military defeat, but
their unyielding commitment to defend their faith ultimately thwarted the
Persians, and ensured that Christianity would endure in Armenia. Click here to
read more about the Battle of Avarayr on our website, or download the Diocese’s
iBook for an interactive introduction to St. Vartan’s historic campaign.
Two days prior to the Feast of Sts. Vartanantz, the Armenian
Church remembers the sacrifice of St. Leontius (Ghevont) the priest and his
companions. St. Ghevont is one of the great exemplars of the Armenian
priesthood, remembered for his rare courage and resolution at the Battle of
Avarayr.
On the eve of battle, Ghevont celebrated the Divine Liturgy,
conferred the sacrament of Holy Communion on the soldiers, and baptized those
who had not yet been received into the church. His stirring sermon assured the
soldiers that their mystical union with Christ would survive even physical
violence and death. In observance of Ghevontiantz Day, the clergy of the
Eastern Diocese hold regional gatherings every year. Click here to learn more
about St. Leontius and his companions.
Great Lent
Great Lent Begins in February
This year, the Armenian Church calendar designates Monday,
February 8, as the first day of Great Lent: the season when Christians consciously
turn away from worldly matters and make the effort—through prayer, fasting,
study, and introspection—to prepare for the spiritual drama of Holy Week and
Easter Sunday.
The Scriptural basis for Lent resides in the 40-day period
Christ spent in the wilderness following his baptism. In the words of St.
Matthew’s Gospel (4:12): "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty
nights, and afterward he was hungry."
During Lent we are called to follow the Holy Spirit to
confront our own “inner wilderness”—the realm of spiritual emptiness engendered
by sin, laziness, and vanity. Through prayer, fasting, Bible-reading, and
self-examination, we are given an opportunity to renew our commitment to God,
and gain the strength to work at being more loving, humble, and gentle. Click
here to learn more about the Armenian Church traditions concerning Great Lent.
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=727aaae8ea56658ecf4a092d5&id=445cc4705f&e=62209cfd8c
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