On Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 19:30, Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Parish celebrated the “Vartanants Feast” at the Armenian Catholic Church with a special celebration. Following the mass led by the Archpriest Hayr Vartan Kazancıyan, a panel on the feast was held. This festivity, which the Armenians have celebrated since 485, is the feast of preserving the Christian faith.
When the Armenians recognized Christianity as an official state religion in 301, the Persians, the southern neighbors, were worshiping the fire. They were Zoroastrians. The powerful King of Persia Hazgert II did not wanted the Armenians to become Christians, but worship fire, and he was putting heavy pressure on the people to realize this desire. The Armenian Commander Vartan Mamigonyan decided to remain loyal to the Christian faith, saying that “Christianity is like our skin, without it we cannot live.” Then he leads the uprising against the Persians. Commander Vartan Mamigonyan dies in 451, in the Battle of Avarayr for the sake of religion. With Mamigonyan who fought heroically during the war, also his 1036 close guard soldiers were killed. Then the Vartan Mamigonyan’s predecessor, Vahan Mamigonyan, leaded the Armenian army. Many priests, clergy, intellectuals, academics and scientists fought in this war. One of them is Saint Father Gevont, who is famous by his courage and heroism. Gevont and his friends were martyred in this war. Persians, despite their victory, seeing the heroic resistance of Armenians, withdraw their troops and set free the Armenians in their religious beliefs. Thus, the Armenians have become faithful to the Christian faith. This event creates an atmosphere of peace between the two states which endures until today.
