We are in the Inner Horatagh village, which is not far from Martakert. My 7^th grade students, their parents and I pass by the military unit and climb to the top of the hill where a church has been built. There are soldiers passing by. They stand aside and let us pass. We feel very happy, especially when they put smiles on our faces after expressing their greetings to us. We reach the church, a chapel on a peak that “ensures” the tranquility of the soldiers serving below.

I am in my thoughts as I light candles, murmuring peace to everyone in my prayers. I want to feel the joy of being in peace every day. My murmurs are mixed with the whispers of the students and their parents lighting candles and praying next to me. Suddenly, one of the parents, a mother, who was emotional, asks God for peace in a very loud voice, and it seems as though her words become a prayer in our souls, a sacred prayer for peace.

We rush to the military unit. The marching song of the soldiers and the loud voices call to us, and our schoolchildren and their parents rush to join the soldiers in a round-dance. The national song is heard, and the modulations resonate everywhere and become mixed with the voices of our children surrounded by the soldiers.

My feet take me to the square where the military platoons are standing. The schoolchildren and several mother/teachers of that class follow me. We approach the platoons and take photos with them. It was sincere, admirable, and there was a centuries-old church that was “maintaining” safety. A sacred chapel from above was conveying its hymn of life as a motto.

Natasha Poghosyan

Merited pedagogue of Artsakh,

Teacher of Armenian language and literature of

Vladimir Balayan Secondary School of Martakert