GRAD ILYA OR FOUR FRIENDS WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE HOMELAND

Zaven Stepanyan, Ara Safaryan, Karen Vardanyan and Ilya Nahapetyan were friends from kindergarten … This beginning promises an interesting, eventful continuation. But there is no continuation, because all four died in the last war. Zaven fell in Mataghis, Ara in Shushi, Karen’s last battle was in Khojalu, and Ilya was killed in Hadrut…

As a kid, I used to love coloring. It was easy when I was little. The lord is green, the male is yellow, the moon is white, and the river is blue. And now I am sitting in front of this huge silhouette, I have to paint the sacred and sacred images. And I do not know where to find the colors of their company, who will accompany me on their way from kindergarten to the army, who will say how they lived, what they said, what they dreamed …

Four boys who have been friends since kindergarten died in the struggle for the freedom of the Homeland when they were less than 20 years old. You do not need to add anything. This is the most moving hint in the world, the most shocking one-sentence story. One in four had the nickname Grad Ilya. Maybe I should write about him. Let Grad Ilya embody the image of the four.

– No one can tell about Ilya better than me … He was a non-communicative, self-contained, quiet child. Calm, balanced, peace-loving. I do not remember a single case when Ilya had a fight when he was young or old. Before going to kindergarten, when a person came to our house, Ilya started crying, he was so self-contained. He played with his peers for the first time in the kindergarten, he found Zaven, Karen, Ara among them and … he never separated from them, – says his mother, Mrs. Alla.

… In order to combine “Grad” and peace-loving, I have to talk to my mother for a long time to understand where the strength of Ilya’s soul was hidden, when it was revealed. Especially, I saw the photos of Ilya, tall, with accentuated features, great strength of soul in the eyes. I watched a video where Ilya, against the background of “Grad”, completely armed, with his powerful posture, calmly says under the howl of bombs.

– The mood is high, combative, the staff is excited, active, we reach our goal minutes after receiving the task.

“The most accurate word to describe Ilya is legal,” said Mrs. Alla. “She did everything without any deviation.” He came home from school, took lessons, did all the homework. He had a great progress, he studied mathematics especially well. He was obedient, conscientious and conscientious at school. He never did anything to get a remark. One day he said he wanted to become a soldier and asked us to take him to Pokr Mher College.

– No, people do not make such sudden decisions, they are self-contained, peace-loving, non-communicative people. Where did you hear about the school, who inspired the idea of ​​becoming a soldier, what changed in his attitude?

Mrs. Alla looks thoughtfully, tries to remember something, then shakes her head.

– Ilya’s desire to become a soldier, especially to study at “Pokr Mher” college, was a surprise for us. But this is not the first time we have been surprised by Ilya’s decisions. I thought he would choose a profession related to mathematics, a job related to science in the future. But he insisted and went to “Pokr Mher” school. Then came the surprises. Ilya could not only defend himself, his principles, but also stand by the truth, no matter how difficult and dangerous it was. Ilya can overcome difficulties without hesitation and not back down. However, he was closed. And no one knew what was in the depths of his soul… His growth became immediate and unexpected.

I’m smiling. It seems to me that Mrs. Alla is exaggerating a bit.

– He was a middle-aged boy, we saw him once, his height became 1 meter 94 centimeters.

– How will it be like that …

– How did it happen that the boy, who graduated from “Pokr Mher” and then “Monte Melkonyan” schools with praise certificates and a medal, suddenly said, “I will not go to a military university, I must serve in the army.”

– But why, for what reason?

– Now he should have been a cadet of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute, but he went to military service. He said, “Now I want to serve in the army, then I will eat.”

He wanted to feel the soldier’s worries on his own skin, the peculiarities of conscription, so that he could better understand the soldier.

– Received the rank of senior sergeant in the army, was the commander of the “Grad” unit. Days before his death, he was promoted to lieutenant.

– To a soldier, the rank of lieutenant?

– Yes, the commander said. At first, when he called, he said, “Mom, do not be afraid, I will not be hit by a bullet.” In the end, he said, “Mom, there is no war without casualties.” You have to be ready for everything. As for how my son fought, let his comrades-in-arms tell. He had two characters. To me he was my sensitive, kind, caring Ilya, to others Grad Ilya. Aram from Abovyan, who had served with my son, said: Grad Ilya’s fame spread across the front. It was already dark when he came to Hadrut. And one of the soldiers in the position He entered the trench and said, “Grad Ilya is coming to us.” The boys lit lighters in the trench. And when Ilya came, they started taking pictures with him. During the bombardment, the soldiers entered the trench, and Ilya closed the entrance to the trench like an eagle with its huge stature. When I said that you protect others and you do not spare your life, remember, there is someone waiting for you at home, Ilya was smiling, he will not hit me with a bullet.”

The older soldiers, the mob boys, affectionately called Ilya our Ilyusha. One of them, Armen Apresyan, remembers.

– Ilyusha was tall, broad-shouldered, strong. And as brave and powerful as he was in battle, he was as modest and reserved in human relations. Our Ilyusha was educated, respectful, flexible. When asked what do you need, what should we bring you from the city? Ilyusha was transforming next to “Grad”, she was becoming a different person. He fought selflessly, selflessly, fearlessly. These words were on his lips on the battlefield: hit, hit, hit, shoot. He was calculating and he was shooting. … We made small buns and put them on Ilyusha so that she would not go hungry. Ilyusha did not spare herself, the Homeland was above everything for her. Ilyusha, with her huge size, her fearless soul, looked so much like “Grad” … She was a hero.

… Zaven Stepanyan, Ara Safaryan, Karen Vardanyan and Ilya Nahapetyan were friends from kindergarten. All four died in the last war in Artsakh, so that we do not lose the strength and faith of our last blow …

By GAYANE POGHOSYAN