WARRIOR OF LIGHT. DEACON NAREK PETROSYAN

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4: 9) He who has a heart, will summarize in his soul the living message of Deacon Narek, which is the example of his whole life…

… Dedicated, overly hardworking, infinitely kind, endlessly caring, principled, living in the pain and sorrow of a soldier, brave, victorious to death, modern-day Ghevond… Naturally, sincerely, because everyone’s beloved caring servant was indeed not only an advocate of all these attributes, but also a zealous bearer, the faithful son of God, whose light, according to all, went to be reunited after 33 years of separation, “You were light, you became light” Many of the friends who congratulated the deacon on his birthday on March 25 wrote on their Facebook pages. His relatives, close friends and acquaintances do not feel despair over Narek’s untimely loss, but longing for his words, his presence, human warmth, his advice and non-earthly, boundless love. Longing for a friend who has become a caring guide for many…

On March 25, Dean Narek Petrosyan would have turned 33 years old. Several memorial services were held that day.

In the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense, Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan presented Deacon Narek’s wife Mariam Bznuni with the posthumous award for exceptional bravery in the defense of the homeland, the Order of the Battle Cross of the 1st degree. In the second half of the day, a memorial service dedicated to Narek took place at the Narekatsi Art Institute in Yerevan, during which his close, caring, fighting friends said their heartfelt words about Narek. The documentary film “The Hero of Artsakh” was shown.

The earthly life of Deacon Narek ended on October 29, on the thirty-fifth day of the 44-day war. He was again rushing to the front line, one of Martuni’s defensive positions, to help the soldiers.

During the whole war he left the battlefield only twice and came to Yerevan to solve some organizational issues again. Today, Deacon Narek is resting in “Yerablur” next to his loving soldiers. “Throughout his conscious life, Narek honored the tricolor flag. From now on, Narek will be honored with the tricolor,” said Rev. Movses Sargsyan in Yerablur after the commemoration ceremony.

Deacon Narek Petrosyan was born in the village of Vaghuhas in the Martakert region of Artsakh. He was 4 years old when the First Artsakh War started. He lost his freedom fighter father. He received his primary education in Shushi, attended high school in Etchmiadzin. In 2004-2010, he studied at the Georgian Theological Seminary in Etchmiatsin, graduating with honors. Initially, he served in the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin. Then he was appointed as a regiment priest and left for his native Artsakh. He took the first steps of his spiritual development at the St Hovhannes Mkrtich Church in Shushi. Here, too, his devoted type was recognized and appreciated by Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan. He later offered the young deacon the position of caretaker leader of the Armed Forces, his assistant.

Priest Enovk Yesayan, the deputy head priest of the Armed Forces, remembers with excitement and a smile. “We all had so much confidence in Narek that even if we were on a business trip, there was no possibility of communication, we were absolutely sure that he would find the best solution in any situation.”

Walking around the positions, he was asking what is needed. Sometimes he called, he wanted things that you could only hear from him. “A thousand crosses, two monitors for one of the positions, as many rechargeable batteries as possible.”

While transporting the next aid to Martuni positions, the drones targeted his car… In the earl morning, at 3 or 4, he was impatient. They could have waited until morning, but he wanted to reach the boys a minute earlier. He was in a hurry, he was always in a hurry, as if he felt that his earthly path was not long…

Our new leader, Father Movses Sargsyan, recently ordered to enlarge Narek’s photo and post it on the wall of his office. He said. “Whoever comes in his place, has Narek’s example in front of his eyes:” When we said: “Dear Narek, it is enough, go home, you will come tomorrow with fresh strength, you will continue,” he answered. “No, I will not be able to sleep peacefully. I have to finish. ”

“I have noticed an interesting pattern,” continues Father Yenovk, “In the human subconscious there is a sense that his time is running out.” I have many dead officer colleagues who kept repeating: “There is no time, it must be done quickly.” Now I am talking about the fact that our Narek was one of those “in a hurry”.

He was very sensitive about the significance of the church. For all our devoted clergy, the cross and the sword were unity for him. Our humble and kind Narek became very angry and intolerant when any parent did not want to send his son to the army. He proved by his example that the Homeland is higher than everything, these are not just words. When telling about Deacon Narek, the smile does not leave the face of Father Yenovk.

“He was a very happy man, full of life. He was always the initiator. “Let’s find time, go one day, sit down and have a barbecue.” In Karvachar, under the mountains, on the banks of the Tartar River, the beautiful green space was his favorite place. He had everything in his car. He was telling me. “Let’s not waste time. “I have already prepared everything.” He sang wonderfully… A Christian is a happy person. If you live right, then you are happy. One of the fathers of our church says that they are mourning for the lost. And we lost Narek and found him again… Narek gave his life for the Motherland. God’s beloved child went to Him. A grain of wheat fell into the ground. You can not say this about everyone. His work has borne fruit, it bears fruit today and will give tomorrow.

I remember a case that seemed mundane, but typical of its type. We were driving in our car when the driver of the car coming from behind gave an audible signal. I said. “Narek, give way, this man wants a way.” He said. “No, the maximum speed limit in this section is 70 km / h. He wants to break the law.” I said, “Let him break, isn’t he the one who breaks?” He said. “No, why should I let him commit a crime?”

… Deacon Narek Petrosyan also participated in the April four-day sitting. In those days he encouraged the military at the military bases in Martakert and Talish. It reminded us of our history lessons. “Which of you did not get angry every time on April 24, why our ancestors did not fight? I am angry every time… Now are no less fateful days than Avarayr and Sardarapat. “Know that in the future you will be living legends, all this will be written about.”

In 2020, from the very first days of the war unleashed on September 27, again without hesitation, Narek hurried to Artsakh, to the front line. He fought with a weapon in his hands in Hadrut for 11 days. Then he went in different directions, encouraging the military and volunteers. “No matter how much we try to do something alone, we will not succeed, because even the most righteous person, as we know from the Bible, can not do everything justly and exemplary. But when he turns to God, tries to spend his whole life with God, the God who envelops the universe, eternity, Jesus Christ, becomes our life partner. ”

Narek was a kind of soldier, a fighter. He wore a military uniform during the war. On his chest was the guardian of the holy cross of Ashot Yerkat, blessing the warriors with the cross of his hand. He liked to repeat. “A brave shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” “They were not just words.”

A close friend of Deacon Narek Petrosyan, Sen Lt of the Defense Army, deacon Gor Gyurjyan’s thoughts and memories.

“On October 29, when Narek received a new passport of a celestial citizen, his new address was written there. Deacon Narek and our other martyrs convinced me that neither living nor dying is the easiest, the hardest, or the most important. The most important thing is to live a life of love, and to die and live are matters for God to decide. Our task is to live a gifted and loving life, like Deacon Narek. The second conviction I have thanks to Narek is that he cannot become the past, he is present in us, in his wife and daughter. You can see him all the time, and you can continue his work. Christ says: “If you knew where I was going, you would not be sad because I am going to my Father. The same is certainly true for Deacon Narek. I can say with confidence that he now enjoys the direct presence of Christ. Happy birthday, dear friend.”

Mariam Bznuni, the wife of Deacon Narek, is the first to think of Narek when she thinks of his devotion and care. He would always say to her, “Mariam, you know my position, you know my mission. I must now do the work thoroughly so that our structure in the Armed Forces is strengthened. To be with our soldiers more. They are 18-19 years old, neither married nor have children. I’m married and have a baby.”

“Both in the April and in this war, his thought was his soldier. They have been here for two years, they are defenseless.” He was in constant contact with the colonels. He called to find out what the problems were. He had developed a special questionnaire for the colonists, in which all the questions were examined, not just as a summary. ”

Deacon Narek had a special position and might not go to the battlefield. But now he had another reason. “I cannot just do paperwork, Mariam, when there is a war.”

“His most important task and concern during the war was to organize the baptism of soldiers,” says Mariam. “All soldiers must be baptized.”

Deacon Gor Gyurjyan remembers: “Deacon Narek’s friend not only in life but also on the battlefield. During the April war, I served in Mataghis, and he served in the Ministry of Defense. He came to Artsakh from the very first day of the war. He said I should be by your side. I cannot leave my friend alone on the battlefield.” Together we walked in different directions in different positions, providing service.

… This time I was serving in the Defense Army. And Deacon Narek said the same thing: “I will not leave you alone on the battlefield, will I?” From the very first day he hurried to Artsakh. He always said the Gospel word. When the wolf comes, he attacks the flock, the brave shepherd is next to his flock. He considered himself a shepherd of soldiers. From the first day we were walking around military units and positions. He sat for hours talking to the soldiers. They told about their difficulties, then he spoke, in his calm voice he conveyed important ideas to them. He constantly called for a struggle so that there would be no more genocide! And he always said: “I am by your side.”

We went from north to south in all positions. The work with the volunteers was especially important, he bandaged the wounded and prayed for them.

On the way from one position to another, the topic of our conversations was the reform of our service in the army. We saw the shortcomings on the spot and made decisions.

He tried to solve all the problems of the soldiers. Every morning, before dawn, he said: “Let’s make tea for the boys.” He promised the soldiers a barbecue. He had caught geese nearby. Undeterred, he cleaned the five geese overnight in cramped water. From 7:00 in the morning until 14:00 in the afternoon, he roasted on a low fire so that the smoke would not come out and the enemy would not notice. In recent days, he had slaughtered, cooked and brought two chickens for the soldiers on duty.”

Khachik Vardanyan shares his memories. He was wounded in this war, he was being treated.

“One day we had to return to Stepanakert. We walked from the intersection of Jrakan to Hadrut. I was terribly thirsty on the way. We passed by pomegranate orchards. I said. “Narek, pick a pomegranate. I’m very thirsty.” “No,” he said sharply. “Please, I am dying of thirst, I cannot stand it anymore. I will pick one.”

“No, we’ll get to Stepanakert, I will buy as many pomegranates for you as you want. The enemy hits these people’s gardens so much, damages them. Shall we go in and steal a pomegranate?” I was very upset that day, but now I am very grateful for his lesson. We were not given a gun in the positions. Fighting with weapons was not our problem. Then I got a gun for myself. I told him. “You must have a gun with you,” he replied. “I do not need it. I’m ready to die.”

“He was on the battlefield, but he was a soldier of peace, a soldier of light.”

Father Varazdat Najaryan was in Artsakh with Narek.

When describing Deacon Narek, a word comes to my mind – “strange”. Why exactly “strange”, because it was unique? he was neither on earth nor in heaven. He was a special being who lived in some intermediate realm, between earth and heaven. ” Then, of course, it became clear to all of us that he was God and had to leave soon. If the word “devoted” can be interpreted, it is definitely Deacon Narek. In the war, he forced all the colonels to follow the example of the “Brave Shepherd”.

When I tried to persuade him in the Hadrut position not to take risks by staying there all the time, he answered: “If my soldiers are in danger, then it is natural for him to threaten me.” For the first 11 days he was constantly on the front lines of Hadrut. One dark evening, on one of the streets of Stepanakert, we were standing in awe when a soldier approached and we did not even see his face. He said. “Please, if you can, inform both military and caring officials that there is a caring officer on the Hadrut frontline who deserves the highest awards.” It was clear who he was talking about.

Every word of Narek was a deed. He knew that every second could be a turning point in his life. I once said: “Narek, aren’t you afraid of death?” He answered. “Believe me, I have already conquered death within myself. Death has no other value for me, because to die for Christ is a gain.” And he was martyred for the values ​​he professed. Deacon Narek is truly Ghevond of our day. A military priest has two uniforms: the military uniform is under the guardianship scheme. If necessary, he is a soldier of his Homeland, and in peacetime he is a soldier of the soul to serve the caring needs of his flock. Deacon Narek was the harmonious fusion of these two.”

Rev. Movses Sargysan said during a ceremony at the Narekatsi Center: “Narek was a special priest. I want to talk today not about how Deacon Narek died, but about how he lived.  Beloved, our martyrs have proved something that we all often say. “We love the Homeland, we love our friends, our family.” But Narek and our other martyrs proved it in practice. Deacon Narek’s birthday has its message. He had a clear instruction from above and he kept saying in recent days: “We must do everything possible to correct all the shortcomings in our country, whether we are secular, military or spiritual. Today’s message is that we must continue the work of our martyrs. Remembering them is not just the pain of loss that will guide us, but the responsibility they have bequeathed to us.”

By KNAR TADEVOSYAN