Each year on May 28, Armenians around the world honor the anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad and the establishment of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920). Today marks 101 years since those fateful events.
In the depths of the Armenian Genocide, Ottoman forces advanced on Eastern Armenia—coming within striking distance of the capital city Yerevan and Holy Etchmiadzin—but were repelled by the native Armenians in a series of battles at Sardarabad, Abaran, and Karakilisa—which have come to be known as the “Heroic Battles of May.”
In an encyclical honoring this week’s anniversary, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, paid tribute to the divine spirit of unity animating the Armenian people in their life-or-death struggle to defend the remnant of their ancient homeland.
“The heroic deeds of Armenians who struggled for our homeland, for our identity and statehood, stands as a testimony to their love and fidelity to the nation and its holy sanctuaries. It exhorts all of us to be worthy and devoted children of our homeland.”
Click on the links read His Holiness’ message in Armenian, and to learn more about the Battle of Sardarabad.
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July 12, 2020 at 6:09 pm
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