Of Friendship, July 4, and an enchanting nest

Vaհe H Apelian  

Of friendship

Friendship transcends time, distance, religion, culture and race. 

A few days ago, I received an email from Nitin, a former colleague, and an old friend, I have not communicated for the past two decades, if not a bit more. The email read, “Respond, if this email is valid still. Hope you are doing well. Warm regards.” Yes, it was. I came with it not long after a domain popped called Yahoo! Who would have wanted not to jump onto a cyber world called Yahoo?

Time momentarily froze when I read the email. Nitin and I worked for the same company. Our offices faced each other. There was not a day at work that I did not meet him. He was in the chemistry side of our shared projects. I was at the pharmaceutical side. One day, I found out an intricately inlaid wooden carving of elephant on my desk. It was from Nitin, who had brought the heavy ornament with him on his return visiting home. It dawned on me that in a casual conversation I had mentioned that the elephants are my most favorite animals. It has become a permanent presence in our home. Elephants form profound life-long friendships.

***

Of July 4

Tomorrow, July 4, 2026, marks the ssemiquincentennialof the United States. The month of July has a personal significance for me. On July 9, 1976, I set foot in the United States, at the JFK International Airport. Telltale signs that the country had just celebrated its bicentennial were palpable. To mark the 250th anniversary, Boston is hosting a massive, yearlong celebration with the peak festivities around the Fourth of July weekend. Our son and daughter-in-law have invited us and our khnamis to spend the weekend in Boston. That will also highlight my 50^th anniversary in the United States.

One of the high points of my immigration to the United States has been the friendships I formed, some passing and some enduring to this day. Some of whom were born and raised in the United States.They were Harold, Bill, John and a few others. Others were Imitiaz, Satish, Nilesh, Mushfig, Leonardo, Maria, Mohammad, Fu, Zhang, Nick, Saied, Masih, and others. They were from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, Italy, Roumania, Uganda and far East. They were immigrants like me. The contributions they brought to the American pharmaceutical industry, be it its developmental science, and technology, are unmistakable and undeniable.

***

Of enchanting nest

After our, out of main site facility of the company we worked for in Cincinnati closed, I looked for employment in another pharmaceutical company, while Nitin established his own company in Goa, India. In the ensuing email, he wrote that he and his wife have put an end to their professional careers and pursuing personal interests and  “enjoying life making documentary films, publishing digital books. Lot of community work,” and seeing their grandchildren.

It turns out that his wife Vinda is also an avid gardener and on their farm, she has started a home stay. “Lots of my friends do come and stay (of course complimentary to all friends).” He urged us “Do come so we can share memories of the lost time.”

India has fascinated me. Goa is the smallest state in India and has a unique culture of its own. I doubt that my wife and I will undertake such a journey. It was so good to get connected again. 

I read that Gao has a vibrant cultural which is a fusion of East and West, shaped by over 450 years of Portuguese rule alongside indigenous Indian coastal traditions. This unique Indo-European blend has come to define the region’s unique culture, architecture, and cuisine. And all those who may be interested in a home stay away from home, while experiencing the region’s unique culture may consider - https://theenchantingnest.com/

 

 

 

War or peace

Vaհe H Apelian

“War or Peace. Time to Get Serious”, November 1, 1997, was the position paper of then president Levon Ter-Petrosyan regarding the possible resolution of the Karabagh conflict. Not out of love for history, but out of necessity for coming to terms with reality and for shaping reality as much as possible, we should not ignore studying that historical happening in our recent history and its implications for the future.

  Levon Ter-Petrosyan (LTP) was the first president of the Republic of Armenia. His term was from 11 November 1991 to  3 February 1998. On November 1, 1997, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan published his political position regarding the possibility of  settling the Karabagh conflict he led. He titled his position paper, “War or Peace. Time to Get Serious.” 

Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, who are from Karabakh, and Vardan Oskanian who is from the Diaspora, opposed President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. It was LTP who as the leader of Karabagh unification movement and as the first president of the Republic of Armenia, who had propelled their political fortunes. 

President Levon Ter-Petrsoyan, appointed Robert Kocharyan as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on March 20, 1997.

In 1997, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan also appointed Serzh Sargsyan as the Minister of National Security of Armenia. Additionally, he concurrently held the position of Minister of Interior as well.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan appointed Vardan Oskanian to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry in 1992, and had him elevated to deputy minister in 1994 and then to the first deputy in 1997. Vardan Oskanian's main responsibility concerned the negotiations the Karabakh conflict. 

In that capacity, Oskanian disagreed with the concessions proposed by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, as did Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. The three, rejected their own leader,  and political mentor  LTP, and had him resign office, a few months later, on February 3, 1988. They hence took over the  leadership of the country for the next twenty years and enriched themselves becoming enormously wealthy. But what the LTP had warned about, happened. Karabakh was depopulated.

I have attached Levon Ter-Petrsoyan’s “War or Peace. Time to Get Serious” in its entirity in four segments, along with their translations. 

Part 1 – The only option for solving the Karabakh question is compromise,'

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_23.html

Part 2 - The path of adventurers will lead to inevitable defeat

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_29.html

Part 3 - Five myths and  two riddles

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious.html

Part 4/4 - Our only ally is the refusal of adventure

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_12.html

 

“War or Peace. Time to Get Serious”

 Vaհe H Apelian

“War or Peace. Time to Get Serious”, November 1, 1997, is the position paper of then president Levon Ter-Petrosyan regarding the possible resolution of the Karabagh conflict. Not out of love for history, but out of necessity for coming to terms with reality and for shaping reality as much as possible, we should not ignore studying that historical happening in our recent history and its implications for the future.

  I Levon Ter-Petrosyan (LTP) was the first president of the Republic of Armenia. His term was from 11 November 1991 to  3 February 1998. On November 1, 1997, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan published his political position regarding the possibility of  settling the Karabagh conflict he led. He titled his position paper, “War or Peace. Time to Get Serious.” 

Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, who are from Karabakh, and Vardan Oskanian who is from the Diaspora, opposed President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. It was LTP who as the leader of Karabagh unification movement and as the first president of the Republic of Armenia, who had propelled their political fortunes. 

President Levon Ter-Petrsoyan, appointed Robert Kocharyan as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on March 20, 1997.

In 1997, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan also appointed Serzh Sargsyan as the Minister of National Security of Armenia. Additionally, he concurrently held the position of Minister of Interior as well.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan appointed Vardan Oskanian to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry in 1992, and had him elevated to deputy minister in 1994 and then to the first deputy in 1997. His main responsibility concerned the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict. 

In that capacity, Oskanian disagreed with the concessions proposed by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, as did Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. The three, rejected their own leader,  and political mentor  LTP, and had him resign office, a few months later, on February 3, 1988. They hence took over the  leadership of the country for the next twenty years and enriched themselves becoming enormously wealthy. But what the LTP had warned about, happened. Karabakh was depopulated.

I have attached Levon Ter-Petrsoyan’s “War or Peace. Time to Get Serious” in its entirity in four segments, along with their translations. 

Part 1 – The only option for solving the Karabakh question is compromise,'

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_23.html

Part 2 - The path of adventurers will lead to inevitable defeat

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_29.html

Part 3 - Five myths and  two riddles

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious.html

Part 4/4 - Our only ally is the refusal of adventure

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_12.html

Irreplaceable and timeless heritage

This year we celebrate the 180th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church, and the community  adhering to it.  In Armenia we live in a tumultous period in the relationship of the mother church and the Armenian state. The relatively young Armenian Evangelical Church may be destined to have a historical role “in the cause for the spiritual revival of the nation.” Vaհe H Apelian

In a week, on July 1, we will celebrate the 180th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Constantinople. There is no doubt that there are legacies that are irreplaceable and timeless. Those are the adjectives I chose to translate the titles of two books I will reference in the text.

A few days ago, I read that the Hamazkayin “Vahe Setian” Printing House has published a book that appears to be a collection of the literary works or thoughts of Moushegh Ishkhan, and has titled the book “Timeless (Անժամանցելի) Thoughts (Խոհեր).”

The unique title of that book reminded me of the  “Irreplaceable (Անփոխարինելի) Heritage (Ժառանգութիւն)” book by the late Rev. Barkev N. Darakjian. Perhaps  Hamazkayin's book  - “Irreplaceable Thoughts” - will reach America and I will have the opportunity to read it.

Rev. Bargev N. Darakjian’s book, “The Irreplaceable Heritage” was published in 2004 by the Armenian Missionary Association of America, Paramus, New Jersey. I have read the book. Frankly speaking I vaccilated to call it irreplaceable, and not indespensable or for that matter unsubstutable. Also, I resorted to calling the title of the book, a heritage and not a Legacy. The all powerful AI, compares and contrasts them as follows: both terms deal with what is passed down through time, heritage refers to what you receive from the past (culture, traditions, history), whereas legacy refers to what you leave behind for the future (your actions, impact, or financial assets).

It goes without saying that I do not claim to have an expert knowledge of the history of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church. But I imagine that this book by Rev. BarKev N. Darakjian is an authoritative work that also includes theological, ecclesiological, and doctrinal articles. His book is a collection of his assays and presentations through his long service. Rev. Barkev N Darakjian was ordained in 1968 in Lebanon and passed away on April 6, 2023 in Glendale, CA.

I quote the following passages from Rev. Barkev D. Tarakjian’s book. The original quotes were reproduced in link below.

***

“The heritage left by the Armenian Evangelical Movement is irreplaceable for us. Because our existence is valued by Armenianness, our Armenianness is meaningful by EVANGELISM, and our evangelism is valued by MOVEMENT. We believe that the anchor of our national existence is Armenianness, what gives meaning to our Armenianness is the Gospel, and the source of our movement and enthusiasm is the Holy Spirit. In other words, we dare to declare that our heritage ceases to be irreplaceable when we take away Armenianness, or the Evangelism, or the Movement.” (p. 17)

***

“This magnificent jubilee celebration is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church, and the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America. It is dedicated to a church and a community that came into existence involuntarily as a separate collective and movement. Involuntarily, because none of the Armenian Evangelical forefathers ever thought of establishing a separate and independent church. However, the inevitable happened when, on July 1, 1946, in Constantinople, it was born with spiritual and physical suffering, and was worthily called the Armenian Evangelical Church.

As a humble student of the history of the Armenian Evangelical Movement, we could at this moment dwell at length on the indirect influences that gave birth to this church. However, this is not what is expected of us at this moment. This is neither the time nor the place to touch upon the detailed historical events that became thorns in the past, wounded hearts, and also served to separate brother from brother, and relatives from each other.

However premature this point of the lecture may seem, allow us to make an affirmation about the existence of the Evangelical Movement, which is also our sincere conviction. Based on historical data, it can be argued that the separation or division that occurred 125 years ago was a negative phenomenon, a harm, if you will. However, with the same strong conviction, we declare that God turned that unintentional and apparent harm into good and blessing. To clarify our mind, and looking at the incident from another angle, we can say that the Armenian Evangelical Church was born as an unwanted child, apparently against the will of its parents. It spent its childhood, adolescence, and many more years with the bitter feelings of an unwanted child; but served with warm filial love and care. In their days of distress and suffering, he comforted them; as they passed through the “valley of the shadow of death,” he inspired hope in them; when they were wounded, he bandaged their wounds, and cared for them with his modest means, until the hearts of the parents melted, and they began to recognize this unloved child and sympathize with him. And let us tell you, dear compatriots, sisters and brothers, that it is not too late for parents to press this child to their bosoms, that they may mutually confess their sins and, forgiving one another, cooperate in the cause of the spiritual revival of the nation.” (p. 22)  

Link: Անդփոխարինելի եւ Անժամանցելի: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2026/06/blog-post.html

Անդփոխարինելի եւ Անժամանցելի

Այս տարի կը նշենք Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիին, եւ հետեւաբար անոր շուրջ համախմբուած համայնքին հիմնադրութեան 180-ամեակը։ իսկ Հայաստանի մէջ կ՚ապրինք եկեղեցի, հօտ յարաբերութեան անրջրպետ մը կամ անկիւնարձային շրջան մը։ Չեմ զարմամար որ՝ յարաբերբար երիտասարդ Հայ Աետարանական Եկեղեցիին վիճակուած է ունենալ հոգեւորական բարենպաստ  պատմական դեր մը Հայ հոգեւոր կեանքին մէջ, «ազգին հոգեւոր վերազարթնումին ի խնդիր։»  Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

Շաբաթ մը ետք, Յուլիս 1-ին պիտի նշենք Հայ Աւետարանական եկեղեցիին հիմնադրութեան 180-ամեակը։ Անկասկած որ ժառանգութիւններ կան որոնք անփոխարինելի եւ անժամանցելի են։

Այսօր կարդացի որ Համազգայինի «Վահէ Սէթեան»  Տպարան-հրատարակչատուն-ը հրատարակած է Մուշէղ Իշխանի գործերէն կամ ալ խոհերէն փունչ մը ըլլալ եղող  գիրք մը, ու անուանած է գիրքը՝ «Անժամանցելի խոհեր»։

Գիրքին անունակոչութիւնը զիս տարաւ հանգուցեալ Վեր. Պարգեւ Ն. Տարագճեան-ին «Անփոխարինելի Ժառանգութիւնը» գիրքին։ Թերեւ «Անժամանցելի խոհեր»գիրքը հասնի Ամերիկայի կողմը այս աշխարհին եւ ես առիթը կ՚ունենամ կարդալ զայն։

Վեր. Պարգեւ Ն. Տարագճեան-ին «Անփոխարինելի Ժառանգութիւնը» գիրքը լոյս տեսած է 2004-ին, հրատարակութեամբը Հայ Աւետարանական Ընկերակցութիւն-ին, Ամերիկայի Միացեալ Նահանգնրերուն, Փըրամըս, Նիւ Ճըրզի։ Կարդացած եմ գիրքը։

Անշունտ որ հաւակնութիւնը չունիմ ըսել որ Հայ Աւետարանական եկեղեցիին հիմնադրութեան պատմութեան ծանօթ եմ։ Բայց կը պատկերացնեմ որ վեր. Պարգեւ Ն. Տարագճեանին այս գիրքը հեղինակաւոր աշխատասիրութիւն մըն է որ կ՚ընդգրկէ նաեւ Աստուածաբանական, եկեղեցաբանական, ու դաւանաբանական յօդուածներ։ 

Կը մէջբերէն Պարգեւ Ն. Տարագճեանին այս գիրքին։

«Անփոխարինելի՛ է մեզի համար Հայ Աւետարանական շարժումին թողած ժառանգութիւնը։ Որովհետեւ, մեր գոյութիւնը արժիքաւորուած է ՀԱՅութիւնով, մեր հայութիւնը իմաստաւորուած է ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆականութեանով, ու մեր աւետարանականութիւնը արժէքաւորուած է ՇԱՐԺՈՒՄՈՎ։ Մենք կը հաւատանք որ մեր ցեղային գոյութեան խարիսխը Հայութիւնն է, մեր հայութեան իմաստ տուողը Աւետարանն է, ու մեր շարժումին ու խանդաւարութեան աղբիւրը Սուրբ Հոգին է։ Ուրիշ խօսքով, կը յանդգնիք յայտարարելու՝ թէ մեր ժառանգութիւնը կը դադրի անփոխարինելի ըլլալէ երբ վերցնենք հայը, կամ։ Աւետարանականութիւնը, եւ կամ Շարժումը։» (է՚ջ 17)

***

«Յոբելինական այս շքեղ հանդիսութեանը նուիրուած է Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիին հիմնադրութեան 125-ամեակին, եւ Ամերիկայի Հայ Աւետարանական Ընկերակցութեան 50-ամեակին։ Նուիրուած է եկեղեցիի մը ու համայնքի մը, որոնք ակամայ գոյութեան եկան իրբեւ անջատ հաւաքականութիւն  եւ շարժում ։ Ակամա՛յ, որովհետեւ Հայ Աւետարանական նախահայրերէն ո՛չ մէկուն մտքէն կ՚անցնէր անջատ եւ ինքնուրոյն եկեղեցի մը հիմնել։ Սակայն պատահեցաւ անխուսափելին, երբ Կ. Պորսոյ մէջ 1 Յուլիս 1946 թւին հոգեկան եւ ֆիզիքական երկունքներով ծնունդ առաւ այդ, եւ արժանաւորապէս կոչուեցաւ Հայաստանեայց Աւետարանական Եկեղեցի։

Իբրեւ համեստ ուսումնական մը Հայ Աւետարանական Շարժումի պատմութեան, այս պահուն կրնանք երկարօրէն ծանրանալ այն անուղղակի ազդակներուն վրայ որոնք ծնունդ տուին այս եկեղեցիին։ Սակայն, այս չէ այս պահուն մեզմէ ակնկալուածը։ ո՛չ  ժամանակն է, եւ ոչ ալ վայրը՝ արծարծելու պատմական այն մանրամասն դէպքերը որոնք անցեալին դարձեր են փուշեր, խոցոտած են սրտեր, նաեւ առաջագուցած մըրիկ՝ զատելու համար եղբայրը եղբօրմէն, ու հարազատները իրարմէ։

Որքան ալ կանուխ նկատուի դասախօսութեան այս կէտին, թոյլ տուէք մեզի որ կատարենք հաստատում մը Աւետարանական Շարժումին գոյառումին շուրջ, որ է նաեւ մեր անկեղծ համոզումը։ Հիմնուելով պատմական տուեալներու վրայ, կրնայ ըսուիլ՝թէ ժխտական երեւոյթ մըն էր՝ չարիք մը, եթէ կուզէք, 125տարիներ առաջ տեղի ունեցող անջատումը կամ բաժանումը։ Սակայն, նոյնքաՆ զօրաւոր համուզոմով կը յայտարարենք թէ այդ ակամայ ու երեւութական չարիքը Աստուած բարիքի ու օրհնութեան վերածեց։ Պարզելու համար մեր միտքը, եւ ուրիշ մէկ անկիւնէն դիտելով դէպքը, կրնանք ըսել թէ Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցին ծնաւ իրբեւ անբաղձալի մանուկ, ակնկալօրէն ծնողաց կամքին հակառակ։ Ան իր մանկութիւնը, պատանեկութիւնը ու դեռ երկար տարիներ՝ անցուց խորթ զաւակի մը դառն  զգացումներով, սակայն ծառայեց անոնց որդիական ջերմ սերով, եւ գուգուրանքով։ Անոնց նեղութեան ու տառապանքի օրերուն սփոփեց զանոնք՝ երբ «մահուան շուքէ ձորէն» կ՚անցնէին, յոյս ներշնչեց անոնց՝ երբ վիրաւորուած էին, փաթթեց անոնց վէրքերը՝ եւ խնամեց զանոնք իր համեստ միջոցներով, մինչեւ որ հալեցաւ ծնողաց սիրտը, ու սկսաւ տակաւ ճանչնալ անբաղձալի այս զաւակը ու համակրիլ անոր։ Ու ըսենք ձեզի, սիրելի հայրենակիցներ, քոյրեր եւ եղբայրներ, թէ ուշ չէ այն ժամանակը երբ ծնողք իրենց կուրծքին պիտի սեղմեն այս զաւակը որ անոնք՝փոխադարձաբար՝ պիտի իրարու խոտուանին իրենց յանցանքները ու ներելոիվ իրարու, պիտի գործակցին ազգին հոգեւոր վերազարթնումին ի խնդիր։» (էջ 22)              

 

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Oath of Office, Պաշտօնի Երդում

Նոր երդում պատրաստուած է Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան Ազգային ժողովի անդամներուն համար։ Առաջարկուած երդումը ընդօրինակած եմ Ալէն Սիմոնյանի ֆէյսպուքի էջէն եւ տեղադրած եմ նեքեւը։

A new oath of office is prepared for the members of Armenia’s National Assembly. The proposed oath of office is posted below. 

Թարգմանութիւնները կը պարտիմ Google Translate-ին։

The president, members of the congress, the federal judges, and the civic servants of the United States of America take an oath of office. The oath of office for members of congress is listed below. 

Ամերիկայի Միացյալ Նահանգներու նախագահը, Գոնկրեսի անդամները, դաշնակցային դատավորները, քաղաքացիական ծառայողները, կ՚երդնուն։ Գոնկրեսի անդամներուն երդումը ներկայացուած է ներքեւը։

Թարգմանութիւնները կը պարտիմ Google Translate-ին

 

A street in Yerevan named after King Bab

Yerevan City Council decided today, to rename Amiryan Street, which is a major central thoroughfare. It stretches from Republic Square to the intersection with Mashtots Avenue, placing it right at the heart of the city's downtown, after King Bab. Who was King Bab? I reproduced below a blog I wrote about king Bab, years ago., on January 7, 2024. Vaհe H Apelian

King Bab - Պապ Թագաւոր 

 On more than one occasion the PM Nikol Pachinyan mentioned King Bab - Պապ Թագաւոր - (353-374/375). Reading in the internet about the king, it became apparent that King Bab has fired the imagination of the Armenians in Armenia to this day. In 1944, Stepan Zorian published a 707 pages long novel about the king and in the 2019, a 12th grade student at Mkhitar Sepastatsi Educational Complex  in Yerevan, wrote about King Bab in her blog. I have no recollection of a student in Diaspora Armenian schools write about King Bab. In an attempt to learn and share about King Bab, I resorted to translating the information the young student Hasmik Nersisyan noted in her blog about King Bab (Պապ Թագաւոր). The original is posted below, Բնագիրը կցուած է ներքեւը։ Vahe H Apelian

A depiction of King Bob

Introduction

King Bab ascended the throne during a difficult period, when Armenia was under siege by Persia and Rome and was under the threat of attack at any moment. The King, Arshak II, was in captivity.  The queen was besieged in Artagers (a historic castle).  The general was skinned and placed in the Anhush fortress (in south-west Iran) before King Arshak. The Catholicos Nerses the Great, was busy building and repairing churches. 

When Bab ascended the throne, he set himself the task of creating a state that would not depend on Rome or Persia. In a little while, we shall see how successful he was to accomplish his goals.

Family and youth

 Bab (353-374) was the son of King Arshak II of the Arshakuni dynasty (note: The Arsacid dynasty, called the Arshakuni dynasty, ruled the kingdom of Armenia from 12 to 428). The queen was Parandzem, Arshak's 3rd wife. Before ascending the throne, Arshak II was married to a woman whose name is unknown. The woman apparently died before 358. Bab is the only known child born to Arshak II during his reign.

The Defense of Artagers

After the imprisonment of the Armenian king Arshak II, the Persian king Shapuh II invaded Armenia in the fall of 368 with 50 thousand soldiers, according to P'awstos Buzand (an Armenian historian of the 5th century). The Armenian queen Parandzem, taking the state treasures, fortified herself in the fortress city of Artagers with the king's guards numbering 11 thousand soldiers. The queen's goal was to resist the enemy until the help came from the forces of the Armenian nobles led by the crown prince Bab and chief of staff Mushegh Mamikonyan. They had taken refuge in Rome seeking military help. Bab presented himself to Roman Emperor Valens (364 to 378), and asked him for help. Meanwhile Bab often sent word to the queen that he would be coming soon to her help with the support of the Roman army. But emperor Valens vacillated to take a decision.

According to Ammianus Marcellinus (a Roman soldier and historian), the besieged Armenians not only organized a heroic resistance, but also caused significant losses to the Persian troops with nightly counter attacks temporarily stopping the siege of the fortress, while. negotiating with the Persians who demanded the queen Parandzem to yield, arguing that it is a pointless defense. The queen sent word with them to the Persian army that the Armenians needed two days to prepare for surrender. Thereupon, the Persians loosened the siege. But the Armenian forces, instead of surrender, attacked the Persians and defeated them.

When the Persian king Shapur (Շապուհ Արքա) learnt about the defeat of his army, as Ammianus noted, he fell into "beastly fury". Under his leadership, in the spring of 369, the Persian army entered Armenia and surrounded Artagers again. During the 14th month of the ensuing defense, an epidemic started in the fortress, from which most of the fortress guards died. Deprived of the means of resistance, the queen surrendered. The Persian army looted the king's treasures, captured thousands of people and the queen Parandzem and brought her Persia, where she was publicly humiliated and tortured to death. 

The queen Parandzem defending the  besieged in Artagers

 At that time, Bab was in Rome, seeking military help from the emperor Valens so that he could save the country from the Persian yoke. In 368, Bab with Rome's assistant returned to Armenia with a 10,000-strong army, accompanied by several Armenian nobles. 

His entry into Armenia became a turning point. With his small army, Bab slaughtered not only the Persian battalions, but also the Armenian nobles who had betrayed. But his initial efforts were not all successful to defeat the Persian army. Bab retreated and took refuge in Pontus, within the Roman dominion. He camped in a forest with his commanders for a year taking his time to get organized. Subsequently, showing will and determination, he was able to liberate the country and expel the Persian from Armenia, with the help of his commander Mushegh Mamikonian, the son of Vasak Mamikonian (the Mamikonyan family occupied the hereditary office of sparapet (generalissimo) under Arshakuni dynasty kings).

Ruling

King Bab ascended the throne in 370. He entered Armenia with the help of the Romans led by general Terentius, defeated the Persians in a short period of time, and established himself on the throne.

 Bab began his reign at a very difficult time. Like his father, he tried to restore the Arshakuni dynasty with the help of two important dynastic pillars: the Mamikonyan dynasty and the catholicosate (that was hereditary at the time). Vasak Mamikonyan's son, Mushegh Mamikonyan, became the sparapet. King Bab turned to Nerses the Great, and resolved the animosity between the Arshakuny dynasty and the catholicosate. Nerses the Great begam to appear in the court again. 

Another important achievement that King Bab accomplished was to increase the military strength. At the beginning of his reign, the Armenian army numbered only 10 thousand strong. With such forces, it was impossible to resist the huge Persian military force. Emperor Valens sent a Roman battalion to ensure that the Persians would not destroy the Armenian kingdom. Early in his reign, Armenia and Rome won a joint victory over the Persians at the Battle of Bagavan, and some former territories of the kingdom were reconquered by the efforts of his sparapet Mushegh Mamikonian. 

Although Bab's reign began with a reconciliation of the monarchy, with nobility and church, his relations with the church soon deteriorated.. Bab also eventually ran afoul of the Romans, who suspected him of colluding with the Persians.

King Bab's reforms

Bab began to reduce the enormous lands granted to the churches during King Trdat and gave them to the military. He took away five of the seven parts of the church property in favor of the state and the army. He abolished tithing by the church. 

King Bab closed convents, almshouses, nunneries, widow’s homes founded by Catholicos Nerses, which drained the state treasury, and forced all girls and widows to marry to give a boost to the country's population. 

Weakening the economic power of the Church, he forced the clergy to work and some of them to go into compulsory service. 

Because of his reforms of the church, animosity began between King Bab and Nerses the Great. (note: Saint Gregory the Illuminator had two sons, Saint Ardashes, and Saint Verthanes who became the catholicos after St. Gregory. Saint Verthanes' youngest son Saint Hussik succeeded him as Catholicos. Saint Nerses was the grandson of Saint Hussik )

 Nerses the Great passed away and was succeeded by Shahak A. Manazkertsi, who, by the order of the King Bab,  did not go to Caesarea to be ordained as a Catholicos. Instead, he was ordained Catholicos by bishops in his native land. From there on the Catholicos began to be ordained in Armenia. But the elevation of Shahak as Catholicos was not welcomed by the clergy, because it ended the dynastic succession of St. Gregory the Illuminator. 

After the capture of Arshak II, King Bab’s father, a number of Armenian nobles had started a separatist politics and had rebelled. For this reason, a number of territories were separated from the king’s domain. The King Bab set for himself the goal of recapturing and annexing them to the state territories that had been conquered during that period. He assigned  this very important task to Mushegh Mamikonyan. For that, it was first necessary to reorganize the army. He had the number of skilled troops increased to about 90 thousand. Finally, all the provinces of Great Armenia were united again.

King Bab’s Marriage, Death and Legacy

Bab married an Armenian noblewoman named Zarmandukht, who became the queen of Armenia. Zarmandukht gave birth to two sons. Arshak III and Vagharshak.

The emperor Valens unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate him in 373/374, but ultimately succeeded in having him killed in 374/375. Bab was succeeded by his nephew Varazdat as king.

I believe that the Bab took a very important step forward in the establishment of independent Armenian statehood. Having come to power with the help of Rome, he was able to become independent from Rome in a short period of time and lead a policy independent of  Rome and Persia. 

He also made the church independent from Rome. Although his action was not well received at that time, it is because of King Bab that our church is independent from other churches.

 He closed all nunneries and widows' homes and forced everyone to marry. Due to this, he gave a boost to the country's population growth. He closed charitable institutions that were draining the state budget. He forced the clergy to work and enlist, thanks to which he increased the number of the army to 100 thousand.

Bab came to power with difficulty, but was quickly loved by the people. He reduced the land of the churches, abolished a number of taxes (the tenth of the fruit). Thus, he was able to reduce the role of the church in state administration.

 King Bab demanded the nobles contribute towards a permanent army. For this step, he received the displeasure of the nobles.

Thus, the Bab was a controversial historical figure and reigned for only 4 years, but he can be considered one of the best kings in Armenian history, if not the best. (Hasmik Nersisyan, 2019, as a 12th grade student at Mkhitar Sepastatsi Educational Complex  in Yerevan)

Բնագիրը - The original 

(https://hasmiknersisyan.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/պապ-թագավոր/)