Opinion
Nalbandian: Homenetmen atop Mt. Ararat
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 a
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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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Agri /Dogubayazit /Turkey