By Ruppen Nalbandian
Ararat: For many, it is merely a mountain, a snow-covered peak where Noah’s Ark came to rest. But for me, as a son of the Armenian people, this mountain takes on a special significance—it is a holy place, a pilgrimage site, and the symbol of a dream that has long awaited realization. At last, I can say that for me, that dream has become a reality.
I had long dreamt of climbing Mt. Ararat, but it was as I was preparing to be elevated to the Homenetmen rank of Ararat as a scout that I began to initialize my plans for doing so. When I received this rank at the Homenetmen 9th Panagoum (Jamboree) in Armenia this past summer, it was as though I received the key to the passage to Ararat’s summit. At the time, I made a vow to all my Homenetmen brothers and sisters that I would shortly raise the scarf and medallion of the Ararat rank, as well as the Homenetmen flag, atop of Mt. Ararat. Many laughed and called it an impossible act. Others said that they, too, shared the same aspiration. But I had already made up my mind to see this promise through, and it did not take me long to act upon my decision.
Soon after returning home from the 9th Panagoum, I left my home city of Jerusalem once more, this time setting my sights on a different destination: Ararat. On Aug. 25, my plane landed at the airport in Kars. Shortly after landing, I was on my way towards Mt. Ararat. I joined a small group of Europeans who also planned on climbing but who, as might be expected, did not share the same purpose for doing so. The morning of Aug. 27, our small group began to ascend the mountain, and by nightfall, we had reached the first station at an altitude of 3,200 meters. On the second day of the expedition, as we reached 4,000 meters, we allowed our bodies to grow accustomed to the physical conditions at such an altitude, a process called climatization. The third day, we continued the climb to the second station at a height of 4,200 meters, where during the daytime, the sun is ruthlessley hot, and during the moon-lit night, temperatures drop to an unfathomable coldness. At 1:30 a.m. the following morning, we began the final climb to the peak of the mountain. The fourth and final day proved to be the most challenging as the snow and ice covering the mountain made the climb exceedingly difficult. But finally, after six long hours of climbing, when I sank my boots into the clean, undisturbed snow on Mt. Ararat, I knew that my dream was no longer merely a dream—it had become a tangible reality.
Atop Mt. Ararat, I quickly unfurled the Homenetmen flag, renewed my Homenetmen pledge, and almost instantaneously and without prompting, my lips began to utter the words and tune of “Haratch Nahadag.” These moments I describe were moments that I lived and experienced for all Armenians. I was not standing atop Mt. Ararat as Ruppen, but as one member of the Armenian nation who had embarked on a pilgrimage, and who had set out to promise to the majestic Mt. Ararat that one day, we would all come to return her home. By elevating myself atop Mt. Ararat, I sought to elevate all others with me.
Guest Contributor
Bravo Y-Ruppen, You have demonstrated the HMEM slogan is not just about words but of action and high spirit as well. Your video made me feel that I too had accompanied you. Y-Vahram, Boston Minuteman Council, BSA, Unit Commissioner to HMEM 290.
WOW! What an adventure. I only wish I were there with you to sing Haratch Nahadag at the peak. God Bless you for fulfilling your dreams. Seeing you atop OUR mountain dressed in your HMEM uniform emblazoned with the tri-color was very inspiring. I wonder if old Noah was smiling at you too.
At this time it comes to mind the Armenian poet’s Avedis Aharonian’s “Im Kirke” My Book, where he was born in a town called Ikdirmava that was very close to Mount Ararad. As he was born in 1866, then this legend of Saint Hagop climbing to Mount Ararad was much before him. He says that Sourp Hagop knew that God didn’t allow any human climbing the summit as Noah’s Ark was there and the mountain was thus saintly in the eyes of God, and therefore no human was allowed to go up there. Nevertheless, Sourp Hagop tried to climb Mt. Ararad, and verytime Sourp Hagop tried to go further up the mountain, at night when he was asleep his body was moved by a miracle all the way down to where he first started to climb up. It is also said that our Khatchadour Apovian, the poet also tried to go to the summit and he became lost, never to be seen again.
Dear compatriot Rupen, more than a century and a half later, you sure came a long way to climb all the way to our “Sourp” Mount Ararat’s summit and sing the Harach Nahadag with the Homenentmen’s emblem flag. May God bless you, everyone that was with you at this time, as well as all our brothers and sisters who went up there within the past few years and they let our wonderful tri-color to float atop our “Sourp” Mount Ararad’s summit.
Dear Roupen
I was with your parents cruising on the Baltic when we received the news of your heroic and much cherished achievement . your feeling that you were on a sacred mission is shared by all your friends in particular but also by every Armenian person in general .
I am confident that the new generation will carry on the torch of our struggle to new heights .
yeghpayragan parevner , abriss .
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