Such a nation is so enlightened, cupped in the very hand of God, that it can never really be defeated. Armenia celebrates in Vartan the victory, not of arms, but of an idea. That idea is the freedom of the spirit, the basis of liberty, of creativity, of thought and of life. James R. Russell, a scholar at Columbia University, has written a detailed account of the origins of the Armenian people and the importance of St. Vartan to their developing cultural cohesion and strong Christian faith. In his thoughtful essay, he discusses the relationship of the early Armenians with the Persians, Medians, Greeks, Sasanians, and other important cultural groups in the region. He also describes the rule of the Parthian Asaad Dynasty and the factors that lead the Armenian kings and people to adopt Christianity. |
