The feast of Surp Vartanants is one of the most widely kept and most honoured days in the calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is bound up deeply with the history, the spirituality and the national consciousness of the Armenian people, and it stands as a symbol of faithfulness to the Christian faith and of the striving for freedom.
At the heart of the feast lies the battle of Avarayr, fought on 26 May 451 upon the plain of Avarayr. On that fateful day the Armenian army, led by the great commander Vartan Mamikonian, stood against the Persian host in defence of Armenia’s right to keep its Christian faith. Together with him there fell in the battle 1,036 of his faithful companions – the ukhtapah, who with their lives bore witness to their devotion and their self-sacrifice.
Although the engagement ended in military defeat, it has remained in history as a moral and spiritual victory. The sacrifice of Saint Vartan and his companions established Christianity as an inseparable part of Armenian identity and opened the way to the later recognition of Armenia’s religious freedom.
A particular place in the commemoration of Saint Vartanants belongs also to the martyrdom of the clergy, among them Ghevond Yerets, the Catholicos Hovsep and other priests, who died for their faith and for their loyalty to their people.
When is the feast kept?
The feast is movable and is kept on the Thursday at the beginning of the period preceding Great Lent. Most often it falls in February and is accompanied by festal services and commemorative ceremonies.
Name days at Surp Vartanants
On this day all who bear the names of the heroes who fell upon the plain of Avarayr celebrate their name day, among them:
Vartan, Vahan, Vazken, Dirair, Karekin, Mamigon, Ardashes, Ardash, Aram, Arsen, Rupen, Hayk, Horen, Norair, Armenak and others.
These are the names of warriors and of spiritual leaders who have remained for ever in history as defenders of faith and of freedom – names that still today carry a strong spiritual and national meaning.
A feast of lasting meaning
Surp Vartanants is not merely the remembrance of a historical battle, but a living feast of faith, of courage and of spiritual victory. It reminds us that there are values standing higher than earthly triumph – the freedom of the spirit, faithfulness to Christ, and readiness for sacrifice in the name of the future. On this day the Armenian people bow their heads before their heroes and martyrs and draw strength from their example – an example that continues to inspire the generations today.