Vartanantz When the news about the nobles renouncing as their moral victory. This day is reached , a mass revolt broke considered Holy Day by Armenians and is one of out. On their return home, the nobles, led by the most important national and religious days in Battle of Avarayr (Armenian: Vartan , joined the rebels. Upon Armenia. Another important consequence of the Ավարայրի ճակատամարտ, hearing the news of rebellion Yazgerd gathered a battle was that the Armenian Church was unable May 26, 451, also known as massive army and attacked Armenian rebels. to send a delegation to the as Battle of Vartanantz) is Armenians asked the Christian they were very involved in the war effort. remembered by Armenians as for support, as Vartan had good relations with probably the greatest battle in Theodosius II who had given him the rank of Vartanantz is one of the most popular feast days their history. It was fought on general. He sent a delegation to Constantinople for for Armenians. It is filled with both religious and the Avarayr Field in help but help never arrived in time because the nationalistic symbolisms of conscience, faith, and between the Armenian rebels war effort against the Hun had drained the resolve to preserve identity and freedom of under Saint Vartan and their Sassanid overlords. It treasury and his earlier defeat and subsequent religion. It is commemorated each year on the was a Persian victory. peace treaty with Yazdegerd. Thursday prior to Poon Paregentan and the beginning of Lent.

Before the Sassanid conquest of Armenia, Armenia The 66,000-strong Armenian army took the Holy had been the first nation to accept Christianity as Communion before the battle. The Persian army, their religion (301 AD). The Armenians accepted said to be four times larger, featured war the Persian mandate in all respects providing that elephants. A terrible bloodshed ensued, and their freedom to practice Christianity remained Vartan along with eight of his generals perished in intact. Some of the Sassanid kings refused this idea the battle. During the battle a number of Armenian including Yazdegerd II due to its contradiction to generals and nobility including Vasag Suni defected the fundamental idea behind the dynasty itself to the Persians. Vartan Mamikonian Commander-in-chief of the which (first introduced by founder of Empire Armenian forces, 451 AD. ) was the central authority enforced by Following the victory, Yazdegerd jailed some the state religion, and also pressure Armenian priests and nobles and appointed a new from Zoroastrian Magi. Yazdegerd II then tried to governor for Armenia. Although the Persians Friends and Family News – Mary Negosian tie Armenia more closely to its empire, by rooting eventually subdued the rebellion, they had to out Christian faith and replacing it with Birthdays: revise their plans for of , and th th Zoroastrianism, following the policy, he summoned George Balakian (95 ) Alma Krikorian (90 ) Yazdegerd finally granted general amnesty and leading Armenian nobles to and forced rd th allowed construction of new churches. Kay Vartanian (103 ) Mary Negosian (84 ) them to convert to Zoroastrianism. Consequently, the battle has been viewed by the

Don’t Forget … - Judy Cristiano And let us not forget the generousity of the Mardigian family …. Monday, February 6 & 20, 7-8:30pm Bible in subsidizing our luncheons. Study …. Thursday, February 16, 7-8:30pm Catechism ”Monthly Humor” – Dan Cristiano …. Thursday, February 23, Vartanantz

15775 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia Michigan 48154 Phone: 1-734-522-5780 Manoogianmanor.com St. John Armenian Church There will be no presentations during January and

February.

This morning I was sitting on a park bench next to uesday unch lub UPTOWN a homeless man. I started a conversation by asking T L C CATERING him how he ended up this way. 2038 Cass Lake Road Keego Harbor, Mi 48320 Phone: 248.681.9092 He said, "Up until last week, I still had it all. I had Ne ws Cater here at St. John’s plenty to eat, my clothes were washed and February Or at your place pressed, I had a roof over my head, I had TV and 2017 Internet, and I went to the gym, the pool, and the Join us for lunch on Tuesdays library. I was working on my MBA on-line. I had We always have a great meal and a good time no bills and no debt. I even had full medical with old friends. Come as you are and enjoy the Thought for the month coverage." camaraderie with old friends and new acquaintances. The first ever cordless phone Every Tuesday in the Veterans Building was created by God. I felt sorry for him, so I asked, "What happened? Drugs? Alcohol? Divorce?" He named it “Prayer”. It never loses its signal "Oh no, nothing like that," he said. "No, no. I just and you never have to recharge it. got out of prison."

Use it anywhere.