MAG and Associates recently announced the publication of George Mouradian’s latest book, The First Crusade, a historic account of Armenia’s adoption and embrace of Christianity, and the difficulty in maintaining that faith. The narration elaborates on the characters involved in the transformation, and begins with Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who introduced Christianity to the region. The book then describes the nearly three centuries that followed, when Armenians lived in a half-religious state, both Christian and idle-worshiping, as well as St. Gregory the Illuminator’s dramatic involvement with King Tiridates III (Drtad), and the latter’s remarkable acceptance of Christianity as the state religion.
Approximately 100 years after this conversion to Christianity, St. Mesrob Mashdots invented the Armenian alphabet, and the Holy Bible was translated into Armenian. However, even with this triumphant achievement, Armenia continued to have problems with its neighbors. The country had to defend its new faith. The First Crusade deals with Armenia’s wars with the Eastern Roman Empire, Persia, and other countries in an exciting manner. The Vartanants Wars are covered in detail, specifically how Vartan Mamigonian was able to rouse and build an army to fight the Persians with imbalanced odds—66,000 Armenians versus 300,000 Persians plus 20,000 apostate Armenians. Armenia lost the Battle of Avarayr but won the war and retained her love of Jesus Christ. The unassailable patriotism and loyalty displayed during this turbulent period demonstrated the Armenians’ love of God and the continuity of the nation’s Christian commitment.
Mouradian has also written Armenian InfoText, a mini-encyclopedia; Never to Die: A Historical Novel About Armenia and the Quest for Noah’s Ark; Your Journey into Armenia; Evils of the World; Notable Armenian Sayings and Family Relations; in addition to two engineering texts and a book on marriage. All of the books have received exceptional reviews. The First Crusade is available through www.Amazon.com or by sending $14 plus $4 S&H to George Mouradian, 4489 Marcello Drive, Commerce Twp., MI 48382.
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It sounds like it’s going to have a very pro-Christian bias, we already have Moses Khorenatsi, Yeghishe and Agathangelos for that. From the description at least, I chance to guess it probably won’t look at the bigger picture, such as whether or not the conversion was wholly beneficial for Armenia (I would say in some ways it was, and in others it was not). It will probably also cast Armenia’s native pagan religion in a negative light. Really, this book sounds like it is nothing new.
ARAMAZD
Who are you ? You ask, whether it is beneficial to be a Christian ? Christianity is presently the worldwide most oppressed religion : Is this a reason to change ones belief ?
Then how many Armenian do you know that read Khorenatsi, Yeghishe and
Agathangelos ? Of course it is difficult to find lots of new facts history that happened 1500 years ago.
What disturbs me, is the horrible oldfashioned cover of the book. Like this you might be able to sell it in the States, but hardly in Europe.
You really do not get it, do you? Armenia’s greatest claims to fame stem from its early (or Earliest, if speaking about the nation -state) adoption of the Christian faith and it adherence to Christian faith and values.
Armenia has suffered and continues to suffer more than any other state or people for it fidelity to the Christian faith. Christianity is what held the Armenian people together during the LONG night of religious oppression as a nation, more than any other force or value. Armenia and Armenians are admired the world over, and not just through Christendom (Yes, that IS a word and an identifiable entity) for their stubborn and elegant adherence to that which defines them as Armenians; their Christian faith.
More than language, common history, etc..
What would you have them do; revert to Zoroastrianism?
You fail to recognize the gift by example you have given the world, and the gift that has been given you.
Pavlos
Those who deny God and Christ always do better for it if “better” means safety and ease in a sinful world. Our Martyrs definitely were not “smart” enough to conquer the world.
But if Christ was real, being Christian is the true and smart way to live and die.
Is your answer that we mass convert to Sunni Islam, add oglu to our surnames, kill our Priests, and declare Armenia part of the Caliphate? Islamic states are not great places to live, even idiots know that.
The painting is a very well known image to Armenians, likely to catch their glance. It is of Vartan, another not smart Armenian, and Ghevont Yeretz, ditto.