Vardavar, Garni, Kotayk Region #2
Garni, Kotayk Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Whether you’re pagan or not, any event in Armenia is likely to end with those in attendance consuming the meat of an animal or two sacrificed especially for that purpose. As many churches have areas designated for sacrifice in Armenia even though such actions are not permitted in the Christian faith, you can understand why some consider that most of the Armenian population are pagan anyway. “Simply lighting a candle in a church isn’t enough to make you a Christian,” the head of Armenia’s pagans told me.
Indeed, sitting around the tables erected under the shade of nearby trees close to the Garni temple, the one common response to questions asking for clarification on who and what an Armenian pagan is was met with the same response. They were Armenians, they were Aryans, and their history went back long before Christianity was adopted as the State religion in 301 AD. Basically, nationalist concepts of ethnicity, and especially through glorifying their Aryan roots, was more important than religion.
Most of those in attendance did consider themselves Aryans and it might have been all of them. I can’t say for sure because I only spoke to about a dozen people. Nevertheless, it was certainly nationalism that appeared to be the defining factor in their activities and not religion. The fact that the controversial figure of Garegin Njdeh was particularly revered by those in attendance was perhaps testimony to that.
Garegin Njdeh (Armenian: Գարեգին Նժդեհ, real name: Garegin Ter-Harutiunian, 1 January 1886 - late 1955) was an Armenian statesman, military, and political thinker, native of Nakhchivan. A member of the Dashnak party, he was involved in revolutionary activities in Armenia, Bulgaria and Russia.
In 1912, together with General Andranik Ozanian he formed an Armenian battalion to fight against the Turks in the Balkan war. Later, moving back to Armenia, Njdeh commanded different military units. He played a key role in organizing the defense of Karakilis (today Vanadzor) in 1918. A convinced Anti-Bolshevik, he led the defense of Zangezur in 1921. The movement was marked with the expulsion of region’s local Azeri minority.[1]
Following the declaration of independence of Republic of the Mountainous Armenia from Soviet Armenia, he was proclaimed Prime-Minister and Minister of Defense. He fled Armenia after the triumph of Bolsheviks, and was involved in patriotic activities in Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria and United States.
No wonder then, that among the pagan Armenians I’ve met are not only members of the Union of Armenian Aryans, but also of the ruling Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutiun (ARF-D) and Republican parties. Anyway, even if the day was more nationalist than religious, the Gods appeared to be listening regardless. No sooner had the feast got underway than the heavens opened up and torrential rain came down. Probably, it was a fitting way to end Vardavar.
And, after getting drenched earlier, it was one more way to test the weatherproofing on my D200. Thankfully, I’m pleased to say that it passed the test once again.
Garni, Kotayk Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Bus to Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
You are right, Onnik, religion is not the underlying unity of Armenia’s pagans. Actually they do visit churches during their field trips and behave like “regular” Armenians there.
I can tell they are not even close to the supposebly open-minded pagans of ancient Armenia -free sex, less patriarchy, etc. From my observations (I have been to at least one gathering with them), they are more patriarchal than average Armenians and don’t talk much about religion.
Anti-Semitism is prevelant to the extent that some of them believe the Holocaust is not really what the West thinks it is. They will justify this thinking citing Israel’s official denial of the Armenian Genocide. But as I mentioned once, Armen Avetisyan participated in the Holocaust Denial Conference in Iran.
Hovnan Srpazan, I don’t think Onnik is spreading pagan propaganda. Actually the more coverage such groups receive the less radical they become. An argument for the creation of Al-Qaida, for example, is the unfair persecution of conservative Muslim thinkers that was done by Egypt by America’s support.
Anyhow, it was nice seing you in Denver last week, Srpazan!
Simon
Comment by Blogian — July 16, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Hovik, as mentioned in the previous post, what is interesting about the “pagans” in Armenia is that they are actually closely connected with parties such as the Union of Armenian Aryans, your favorite Republican Party and the ARF-D. Basically, they appeal to the more nationalist elements in Armenian society.
Of course, although I have met Republican and ARF-D members at pagan events, the connection is still not as direct as it would seem the Union of Armenian Aryans would like. Nevertheless, those parties that revere figures such as Garegin Njdeh are likely to also appreciate and condone the the type of activities the Armenian pagans engage in.
Incidentally, I found an interesting thread on the forum of the Union of Armenian Aryans web site. Given their support for paganism in Armenia, i.e. declaring Armenian roots go back long before 301AD, and that I’ve met a number of Republican party members at pagan events I think it’s relevant. Basically, these pagan festivals at Garni are more about nationalism than religion.
Comment by Onnik — July 16, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Just found this on IWPR:
That said, what surprised me about yesterday was the number of Dashnaks in attendance.
Comment by Onnik — July 16, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
What I want to know is how anybody knows what Armenians did or practiced before 301 AD. Where are the texts or written documents showing their rituals, “free sex” or anything else they did? The fact is that nothing was left because our church made sure to destroy everything. Certain ancient practices were allowed to continue and passed off as christian, such as blessing of the grapes. However I don’t believe that animal sacrifices were of Armenian origin. This is a very specific judaic practice which was forced upon us in 301AD by Grigor Lusavorich and his cohorts. I also don’t believe that the beautiful and complex Armenian church architecture suddenly developed out of nothing. Remember the ancient buildings the church destroyed and rebuilt the newer churches on? No one will ever know what they originally looked like thanks to lusavorich . I believe true Christianity was rooted in the Armenian highlands hundreds of years before 301AD, but unfortunately was all destroyed and replaced with the judaic version that that was shoved down everyone’s throat. I wonder how many of these Pagans have really studied our ancient history, and if so, I’d be interested to know what their sources are. With all said and done, I do commend them on remembering Garegin Nejdeh. Without him there would be no Zangezour today, and hence, no Armenia.
Arto
Comment by Arto — July 21, 2007 @ 2:50 pm