Feast of the Holy Vardanants at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
12.02.2026
On February 12, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church commemorated the Holy Vardanants warriors—Commander Vardan Mamikonian and his 1,036 companions.
On this occasion, at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Holy and Immortal Divine Liturgy was celebrated under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Rev. Fr. Hieromonk Husik Smbatyan, Rector of the Gevorgian Theological Seminary.
Present at the sacred ceremony were diocesan primates, clergy of Holy Etchmiadzin, and numerous faithful.
In his sermon, Fr. Husik, reflecting on the spiritual meaning of the Feast of the Holy Vardanants, emphasized:
“The Feast of the Holy Vardanants is one of those rare days when history and faith converge into a single testimony. The Persian king sought to erase the spiritual identity of the Armenian people, compelling them to renounce the Holy Cross and the Holy Gospel.
Yet the Armenian people understood that, having lost their faith, they would also lose their identity, their calling, and their future. It is precisely here that the deep significance of the Vardanants’ heroic act is revealed, as expressed in the well-known saying: ‘Conscious death is immortality.’”
Father Husik then exhorted those present, drawing inspiration from the example of the Holy Vardanants, to grow strong in faith, steadfastly preserve it, love the Homeland and the Holy Church, and remain faithful to God through all trials.
“May the Feast of St. Vardananants Commanders and the companions be for us not only a historical remembrance, but also a living call to each of us—to live by faith and to renew our covenant before God, the Homeland, and one another,” Fr. Husik added.
On behalf of the monastic clergy and the faithful present, the Reverend Father also offered his congratulations to His Holiness on the occasion of his name day.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, before the Holy Descent Altar, a Patriarchal Prayer Service was offered under the presidency of Archbishop Haikazun Najarian, a member of the Mother See monastic congregation.
The clergy and faithful lifted prayers to the Lord for the steadfastness and eternal radiance of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and for the long life and fruitful primatial ministry of His Holiness.
