On February 25, the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria organized an event dedicated to the 150^th birthday anniversary of Armenian national hero, General Andranik in Varna with the blessing of spiritual pastor of Varna, Father, Priest Bartughimeos Hakobyan, as the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria reports to Hayern Aysor.

At 17:00, several Armenians gathered at the St. Sargis Armenian Church of Varna where they all took part in a daily evening mass served by Father Bartughimeos, after which in cars and in a bus provided especially for the event they headed towards the Galata district of Varna where an event was going to be held.

More citizens were gathered at General Andranik Square in Galata district and were waiting for the Armenians to come from the church where a statue of the great Armenian was placed. The construction of the square and the placement of the statue made in Armenia were made possible through the efforts of the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria and through funding provided by Brothers Yerem and Harutyun Hovsepyan.

His Holiness performed a Requiem Service in front of the statue of General Andranik and addressed the Armenians gathered there, calling on them to stay true to the messages of General Andranik and shape within themselves the image of a patriot that General Andranik was. “As we examine the life and career of General Andranik, we see an important truth that we can advance our struggle by all means. So, let each of us use our potential for the sacred act of preserving the Armenian identity-something that needs to be done in Armenian communities of the Diaspora,” His Holiness mentioned in his speech.

After Father Bartughimeos’s speech, Nerses Ketikyan read the message of the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria on the occasion of the 150^th birthday anniversary of General Andranik. The message was about General Andranik, who united all Armenians, as well as about the fact that Armenians always feel the need for a hero like him. “The greatness of General Andranik was that his words matched his actions. Today we constantly feel the need for that type of a person. Let’s try to shape that image by remembering the life and career of the General as an example and his famous message-“When you lay your head down to sleep, think a little about your nation”,” as stated in the message.

Afterwards, the gathered laid wreaths and flowers at the statue of General Andranik to the sounds of the song “Inchpes Artsiv” (Like an Eagle), after which everyone headed towards the house in Galata district that the General had built with his own hands and where he had lived. It is a joy for all Armenians to know that after six years of struggle, that house was purchased and saved from destruction through the efforts of the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria and through funding provided by Brothers Hovsepyan since the municipality had granted permission to destroy it and build a multi-story apartment in its place. General Andranik’s house is in safe hands and will be open after renovation as the home-museum of General Andranik.

The participants of the march laid flowers in front of the monument to the General placed in front of his house, after which Ohan Ohanyan spoke on behalf of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun. In his speech, Ohanyan mentioned how important it was for the young generation to be educated with the examples of General andranik.

Among those attending the event were head of Mladost district Kristo Kristov, President of the Union of Armenians of Bulgaria Harutyun Hovsepyan, chairman of the Parish Council of the St. Sargis Armenian Church of Varna Masis Baghdatyan, as well as members of local Armenian organizations.