Avarair

Or the Epic of Vardanantz

A Dramatic Arrangement of the Epic of Vardanantz

Adapted Almost Verbatim from the Immortal Classic by Yeghishé

(as translated in 1830 by C. F. Neumann)

Prepared for the use of Dramatic Groups

by Bedros Norehad (1981)

* * *

The Narrator: During the past several decades we have been repeatedly shocked to realize that the struggle for freedom of human conscience and worship is far from completely won, even in the modern world. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that despite many crucial setbacks, mankind has come into possession of at least a part of its precious heritage of freedom--thanks to thousands of known and unknown battlefields--and countless dungeons, torture-chambers and gallows--where through the centuries martyrs of all nations have fought, bled, suffered and died.

Today, Armenian Apostolic churches everywhere commemorate one such struggle, waged on the soil of Armenia fifteen centuries ago in defense of its Christian faith. Though little noted by historians of the western world, the struggle which began with the battle of Avarair in the year 451, and ended some thirty-two years later with the Treaty of Nuarsak, had fateful consequences for that nation.

The Sassanid Persian kings, then at the height of their power, had become the masters of Armenia, governing the land through Armenian naharars (that is, native princes) and a marzpan (a satrap, or viceroy). The Sassanid Persians were followers of Zoroaster, and worshiped the sun and fire.

In the middle of the fifth century, the Persian monarch Hazgerd II resolved to stamp out Christianity from the land of Armenia. This the Armenian people and a large part of the nobility resisted. The ensuing thirty‑two year struggle constitutes one of the most crucial and heroic periods in the long and eventful history of the Armenian people. Little wonder that today, more than one thousand five hundred fifty years later, that painful struggle for freedom is still commemorated by the Armenian Church every year.

The following historic scene concerns the bold answer that the bishops and princes of Armenia sent to their Persian overlords, defending their faith in Christ, stressing the futility of fire‑worship, and declaring their determination to live and die as Christians. The action takes place at the Persian court at Ctesiphon.

SCENE I

King Hazgerd's Court

Present are Hazgerd, Mihrnerseh (the Grand Vizier), Mobed (Chief of the Magi), the chief of the sectariat, nobles, and high officials. A message has arrived from the Armenian bishops and noblemen. The Chief of the Magi speaks:

Mobed: Valiant King! The gods have given thee empire and victory; they require no corporeal homage; but look to it that all tribes and nations in thy kingdom be brought under one law, after which thou wilt also subject even the land of the Emperor of the Greeks to thy belief. Exterminate the sects of the Christians.

Hazgerd: Have we not already so decreed that all peoples and tongues throughout our dominion abandon their heresies and worship the sun, bring to him their offerings, and call him God? That they feed the holy fire, and fulfill all the other ordinances of the Magi?

Mobed: A perverse and foolish people these Christians are: confirmed in their blind faith in a God who they themselves admit perished on a cross.

Hazgerd:  And what response hath the Grand Vizier from the princes of Armenia?

Mihrnerseh: Even today there has reached our hands, by messenger, Excellent King, a reply to our edict from the priests and princes of Armenia, who in conference met at the city of Ardashad have vowed to defy the royal command. In words of defiant insolence they have extolled their unseemly doctrine, while scorning all the precepts of the Magi.

Hazgerd: Let the Chief scribe read the message.

Scribe (reads): "From Joseph, Bishop, together with all bishops and princes of Armenia that are of the same mind; to Mihrnerseh, the Grand Vizier of the Arians and Anarians: Greetings, in a peace‑loving spirit.

"From our forefathers we have a custom, founded on the divine command, of putting up prayers for the life of the king, that he may in peace preserve his worldly dominion which has been entrusted to him by God, and that we also, during a long peace, may spend our lives in health and in fear of God.

"In response to your proclamation--which commands that the people of our land forsake the God of their fathers and worship, instead, Ormuzd and the Sun--we hereby solemnly state that there is only one God and none other, neither great nor small.  Nothing that has had a beginning is God, for God is eternal; nothing bounded by space, for He himself is space; nor from any time, for all time has from Him its existence. He is not only older than the heavens, but older also than the thoughts in the souls of men and angels. Not only can man not perceive Him by corporeal view, nor by the touch of the hand, but He cannot be adequately conceived by the spirit of any creature, not only of mortals but even of the immortal angels.

"But in reference to what you say, that the God which we worship was born of a woman: behold, your own gods, Ahriman and Ormuzd, were born of a father and not of a mother. And however deeply you may ponder on this, you will never comprehend it, which is by far more ridiculous than the other.

"He who created the world, himself appeared and was born without any corporeal agency, as had been announced by the prophets. He thought it no shame to bear His created body, but He dignified it by His acts. This is Jesus Christ, who by Himself redeemed the whole world. He willingly devoted Himself to death. He died, was buried, rose again on the third day. He ascended to heaven and seated Himself on the throne of His Father.

"From this belief no one can move us, neither angels nor men; neither fire nor sword, nor water, nor any other horrid tortures, however they may be called. All our goods and possessions are before thee. Dispose of them as thou wilt; and if thou only leave us to our belief, we will, here below, choose no other lord in thy place, and in heaven no other God than Jesus Christ, for there is no other God, save only Him.

"But shouldst thou require something beyond this great testimony, behold our resolution: our bodies are in thy hands; do with them according to thy pleasure. Tortures are thine, patience ours; thou hast the sword, we the neck.

"Do thou, therefore, enquire of us no more concerning these things, for our belief originates not with man. We are not taught like children; but we are indissolubly bound to God, from whom nothing can detach us--neither now, nor hereafter, nor forever, nor forever and ever."

Hazgerd: I know the wickedness of all those men who believe not in our law, and are hopelessly ensnared by witchcraft. I have, however, determined in my mind not to cease my signal punishments until they abandon, even against their will, their false doctrines.

Mihrnerseh: Wherefore art thou so troubled? Does not even the Emperor of the Greeks conform himself to thy command? Who on earth is now in a state to resist thy command? Issue peremptory order, and all which thou requirest will be forthwith accomplished.

Hazgerd (to the Chief Scribe): Prepare at once an order, not in the usual style, but with harsh words that are used to the hated and disobedient. Address it to Vardan Mamikonian, Vassak Siuny, and the other princes of Armenia, to repair at once to Ctesiphon to give an accounting of their vile act of disobedience before the great assembly of our court.

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The Narrator: The Armenian princes arrived at Ctesiphon. Protocol required that whenever Armenian troops, headed by a distinguished general, came to the court, they were met at the border by officials who inquired concerning "the health and well‑being of the Land of Armenia," and were then led to the capital with great pomp. The praise of the newcomers was celebrated and the mighty deeds of their ancestors were related.

But now protocol was forgotten.The Armenian leaders found an icy reception. And when they came into the presence of the King, the latter, in the words of Yeghishé, "resembled a raging and stormy sea...and thundered with dragon‑voice, and screamed with direful din."

But the Christians "were not blown by the winter storm," states Yeghishé; "they were not burnt by the heat, nor terrified by the threatening scourge." Once again we are at the Persian court.  Vardan and the other nobles face the King.

SCENE II

The Persian Court

Present are Hazgerd, Persian noblemen, etc. General Vardan serves as spokesman for the Armenian princes. The King speaks:

Hazgerd: I have sworn an oath by the Sun, by the great god who by his beams illumines all the world, who by his warmth vivifies all creatures, that if on the morrow, at his marvelous appearance, every knee does not bend before him and acknowledge him as God, I will bring over you all manner of persecutions and evils, until you, even against your will, shall conform yourselves to my command.

Vardan: We pray thee, O Excellent King, that thou for a short time wilt lend an ear to our words. We have served thee loyally, and have performed in martial deeds in your service more than our fathers; in yearly tributes and taxes more now flow from our land into the royal treasury; thou hast imposed heavy tributes on our Holy Church, which was free in the beginning. On what ground, then, has thou pronounced to us this threatening speech?

Hazgerd: I consider as a loss the tributes of your land in the royal treasury, and I deem your valor useless, for in your ignorance, you offend against the truth of our belief. You despise our gods, you pollute the burning flame and defile the water, you bury your dead in the earth, which thus you stain. I regard you as a flock cast into a waste, and I am much troubled in spirit lest on your account the gods should be incensed and take vengeance on us. If you will live and again shew yourselves in great honor, then follow quickly my command.

Vardan: Do not thou, O King, require this from us; for religion is no institution of man, nor a gift of the sun, which you and others take for a god, and which is not only no god, but not even animate. Religion is no glorification of kings, no art of speakers, no discovery of the wise; it is neither the spoil of valiant armies, nor the deceit of evil spirits. Yonder sun--and whichever you may name among the hosts of heaven, the great as also the small--none of these has ever founded a church. But it is a blessing from God, not given to a particular race, but to all rational beings; its foundation is established on a solid rock and cannot be shaken by man. Wherefore reflect: if thou wilt attack our faith, we are prepared for all torments, for all sufferings; and as often as thou shalt question us on the same subject, so often wilt thou hear, from every one of us, nothing more than this answer.

Hazgerd: I swear by the great giver of life, I swear by the Sun, that you cannot shake my immovable determination, and I will immediately load you all with chains and cause you to be led to impassible places where you will be destroyed by the heat. I will send into your country an innumerable force; your wives and children shall be cruelly banished; your churches and chapels shall be demolished, and all who oppose my will shall die a horrible death. Take them away!

* * *

The Narrator: After considerable deliberation and soul searching, the Armenian nobles thought it the better part of valor to pretend compliance with the King's command, for without their leadership their fatherland would have been defenseless. When informed that the Armenian nobles had decided to conform to his wishes, the King rejoiced greatly, heaped gifts and honors upon them and sent them back to Armenia accompanied with a large army and some seven hundred Magi, to propagate the pagan faith.

But the people would not supinely accept this violation of their most sacred right. At every turn they resisted and harassed and attacked the Magi. Soon after their return, the Armenian nobles renounced Mazdaism and returned to the fold of the Holy Church. Heroic Vardan Mamikonian, a celebrated general who had won forty victories in battles he had fought in the service of the Persian King, assumed the leadership of the insurrection. He surprised and destroyed the Persian army, and drove the remnants out of the country.

But this was merely the beginning of tribulations. The next spring the Persian King sent a mighty army of three hundred thousand men, reinforced by scores of war elephants--the tanks of the ancient Orient. The Armenians, under Vardan Mamikonian, confronted the invading Persians across the banks of the River Dghmood. Night fell, and before battle was joined at daybreak, thus spoke Vardan, the matchless soldier, in his last address to his army of Christian volunteers:

SCENE III

The Battlefield of Avarair. (No scenery is necessary.)

Vardan: I have been in many battles, and you also with me. On all these occasions we have thought only of worldly distinction, and we have fought merely at the command of a mortal king. Whoever fled was dishonored throughout the land and was given over to death unpitied. But he who distinguished himself by bravery was revered by all the people and received honors from a perishable and mortal sovereign.

But useless and empty I deem those exploits whereby we have received those honors, for they pass away. If however, you have done valiant deeds in obedience to a mortal ruler, how much more will you do for our immortal King, who is Lord of life and death, and who judges every one according to his works. In two or three battles the Lord Himself stood by us with great power; we sent the king's troops home in disgrace, and extinguished on every side the absurdity of fire worship. We have rent to pieces the tyrannical order of the king and have set bounds to his raging fury.

There was a time when we were distressed in body and soul as grief-stricken mourners; today we are joyful and discreet, for we have with us our gracious Lord as our commander. For our Commander is not a mere man, but the commander‑in‑chief of all martyrs.

I entreat you, therefore, my brave comrades, especially since many of you surpass me in valor and precede me in princely rank. But since of your own free will you have named me your commander, let my words be agreeable to you all. Fear not the heathen hordes, and never turn your back to the swords of mortal men; because should our Lord grant us victory, we shall destroy their might and the cause of righteousness shall be exalted. But if the time has come for us to meet a holy death on this battlefield, let us accept our fate with joyful heart, never, never mingling cowardice with valor!

Fear is a sign of doubt; but since we have repudiated doubt long since, let fear also disappear from our hearts and minds.

* * *

The Narrator: Despite the valor of heroic Vardan and his brave comrades, his army of sixty-six thousand men--largely composed of raw recruits--was no match for so formidable a body of professional soldiers. Yet they dashed forward vehemently and battered the right wing of the Persian army, and disorganized and put to flight the proud Madyan Corps.

Unfortunately, owing to the machinations of the Armenian Quisling, Vasak Siuny, a section of the Armenian army became detached from the main body at a crucial point of the battle. The Armenians were defeated. Vardan Mamikonian fell fighting to the last; along with him perished a large part of the flower of Christian knighthood in Armenia.

Yet this awful defeat was not the end of the epic struggle.  For even though Persian domination was restored over Armenia, the active as well as passive resistance of the people never ceased during the succeeding thirty‑two years, and soon the revolt flared up anew--this time under the leadership of Vahan Mamikonian, a nephew of Vardan. The time was opportune, for the Persians were having serious trouble on other fronts.

In a series of brilliant guerrilla actions, Vahan Mamikonian repeatedly discomfited the Persian army units sent against him, until the Persian King was finally convinced of the utter futility of attempting to convert the Armenians to fire worship.

By the Treaty of Nuarsak in the year 483, the Persians finally agreed to halt, once and for all, their efforts to impose the Zoroastrian religion, and to end the persecution of the Christians in Armenia and in the neighboring lands under their domination.

By their noble example, Vardan Mamikonian and his gallant comrades inspired not only their contemporaries but all succeeding generations to disdain the chains of tyranny.

The night before the Battle of Avarair, Vardan and his men had prayed thus: "May our death be like unto those of the righteous, and the shedding of our blood unto that of the sainted martyrs; and may God be pleased with our voluntary sacrifice, and deliver not His church into the hands of the heathens."

This prayer has been answered. Despite an endless series of misfortunes and tribulations through the centuries, the ancient and much-tested Armenian Church still stands.

The End

The text of Avarair appeared in an album published in 1981 by the Eastern Diocese to commemorate Vartanantz Day. It is likely, however, that Norehad wrote the original around 1960. C. H. Zakian revised some of the language and punctuation in the present version in 2003.