Sts. Vartanantz Day

St. Vartan Mamigonian

Tomorrow is Sts. Vartanantz Day when Armenians around the world commemorate the Battle of Avarayr which took place in 451 A.D. 

Vartan Mamigonian victoriously led Christian Armenians into battle against the Persian Empire to preserve Christianity.  Each year this victory is celebrated on the Thursday preceding Great Lent – which, this year, starts on Monday, March 3^rd .

Click here for more information regarding St. Vartan and the Battle of Avarayr.

The Vartanesian Family, June,1950 Vartan (aka Uncle Walter), far left; Arpie, his bride of one month; Mary,  center (my mother); Yeranuhe and Oskan (my maternal grandparents)

There was another important ‘Vartan’ – this Vartan was part of our family, my uncle Vartan Vartanesian, a very Armenian name! We knew him as ‘Walter’ - a name that was given to him when he was enrolled in school as a child. (To this day, we have no idea why the name Walter was chosen, but the name stuck.)

Uncle Walt, a kind, easy-going man, married Aunt Arpie, one of my favorite people in the whole-wide world. They were happily married for over 50 years before he passed away in 2002. 

As we celebrate St. Vartan, the warrior, I celebrate the memory of my sweet Uncle 'Vartan'. Click on the recipe names to see two of his favorite dishes – Tabbouleh (Sarma Gurgood) and Dolma.

Here’s to our Vartans!