Religious procession on Vardanants Day to take place in Yerevan

PanArmenian News
Feb 2 2005

RELIGIOUS PROCESSION ON OCCASION OF VARDANANTS DAY TO TAKE PLACE IN
YEREVAN

02.02.2005 15:44

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As reported by the press service of the Armenian
Diocese, tomorrow the youth of the Diocese are to march in a
religious procession along the central streets of Yerevan. The
procession is dedicated to the Day of Commander Vardan (Mamikonian)
and his 1036 fellow-fighters celebrated by the Armenian Apostolic
Church tomorrow. They were killed by the Persian soldiers in the
battlefield in year 451, during the period when the Persian governors
tried to force Armenians to renounce Christianity. The Armenian
clergy blessed the soldiers just on the battlefield during the war of
450-451. The procession is to start February 3 at 12.30 local time,
after the saint liturgy in the Zoravar Church where the St. Vardan
icon is placed. On their way the marchers will deliver booklets
describing the meaning of the holiday to the passers-by.