The Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions is dedicated to the blessed memory of the Armenian priests who fought alongside St. Vartan and the entire Armenian Nation for their Christian faith in the Battle of Avarayr. The eldest among them was St. Ghevond the Priest whose companions were Catholics Hovsep, Bishop Sahak of Syunik, Bishop Tatik of Basen, the priests Mushe (or Mushegh), Arshen and Samuel and the deacons Abraham and Kajajn. After the Battle of Avarayr, the Persian King Hazkert took revenge on the Armenians and ordered these brave clergymen to be killed.

According to tradition, the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions is also a day to celebrate all clergy who serve God's people in their example.

St. Vartan the Captain is considered one of the most famous heroes of the Armenian people. St. Vartan, along with a brave band of 1,036 Armenian soldiers, clergy, and companions, resisted the larger and more powerful Persian army and sacrificed their lives in order to defend their Christian faith. The famous battle took place on May 26, 451 on the plains of Avarayr in the Province of Artaz in Armenia. It was the first of many instances when Armenians proved themselves to be a people who freely chose Christ and who remained steadfast in their Christian faith, unwilling to betray it for any ransom or at any cost. The Feast of St. Vartan the Captain and His Companions marks their martyrdom in this heroic battle.

St. Vartan the Captain was the grandson of St. Sahag, who in turn descended from St. Nerses. Ultimately, his lineage can be traced to St. Gregory the Illuminator. St. Vartan was  educated (most likely) by his grandfather, Catholicos Sahag, but instead of entering the priesthood as others in his family had done, St. Vartan chose to become a soldier. He was eventually appointed as commander-in-chief of the Armenian army by the King of Persia.

Though he did not join the clergy, equally important to St. Vartan's soldiership was his dedication to being a faithful Christian. He believed that one cannot serve one's people without serving Christ at the same time. This proved to be a difficult philosophical position for St. Vartan to maintain because the Persian ruler, King Yazdigerd II, while respecting St. Vartan's military abilities, was a ruthless ruler who was also fanatically opposed to Christianity. He was particularly cruel to the Armenians for their strong faith and sent out a decree demanding that all Armenians convert to Zoarastrianism. In response, Armenian bishops, led by St. Leontius and St. Vartan, called a council at Ardashad and unanimously agreed to defend their faith at all costs. Ultimately, these brave Christians, led by St. Vartan, were forced into battle against the great Persian army. On the fateful day, they prayed, recited the Twenty-Third Psalm, shared food and took communion together as they waited to face the Persians. The battle has been described as bloody and horrendous, and although St. Vartan and his companions were defeated and killed in battle, their fight to defend their faith was not in vain: The Persians eventually stopped their efforts to convert Armenia to Zoroastrianism.

The Feast of Vartanantz, commemorated on the Thursday preceding Great Lent, is both a religious and nationalist celebration. It is a testimony of Armenians' spiritual conscience of faith as well as a political statement against tyranny and the preservation of national identity and sovereignty. Vartanants, as it is commonly called, is one of the most sacred feasts of the Armenian people. In the Armenian Church, the Feast day of St. Vartan the Captain and His Companions is also celebrated as the Naming Day of His Holiness Karekin II. To mark the occasion, at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, a Pontifical Prayer is offered before the Holy Altar of Descent.

St. James Church is beginning a new undertaking and needs your help. We are in need of volunteers willing to give a few hours of assistance to elderly members of the Chicago Armenian community with household chores, minor home repairs, shopping, rides or just companionship.

Click here to see the flyer.

Calling all youth!

The summer conferences dates have been announced and registration forms will be available soon. Each conference is limited to only 25 participants. Please save the date as you make your summer plans! For information regarding this year's special Deacons' Training Program, please contact the program director, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, at [email protected].

High School Summer Conference A: 

July 14 - 23

High School Summer Conference B: 

July 26 - August 4

Post High School Summer Conference: 

August 6 - 12

 Midwest Churches of IL and WI invite you to attend

SAINTLY WOMEN'S DAY

Saturday, March 15, 2014 

11:00 AM 

For Worship Service, Lenten Luncheon and Program

Hosted by St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (Greenfield, WI)

Coffee hour tables can be simple or complex.  Sometimes when people do a coffee hour table they put out coffee cakes and doughnuts; sometimes they put out some fruits. Others put out entire lunch. We encourage you to sign up for coffee hour a couple of times each year. It can be simple or an entire meal - either is fine. The sign-up sheet is in the church hall.