Aknahpyur: The oak of Vardan Mamikonian

DigiTime · Vardan’s Oak

Several residents of the village of Aknaghbyur have been photographed near the oak tree, which, according to tradition, was planted by Vardan Mamikonian on the eve of the Battle of Avarayr.
It has been passed down among the people that the oak tree was planted by Sparapet (Commander) Vardan Mamikonian in 450, one year before the Battle of Avarayr. In the summer of 450, a Persian army moved towards the banks of the Kura River, defeating the Caucasian Albanians on the way.

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Vardan Mamikonian came to the aid of the Albanians with a small Armenian army. In the battle that took place in the field of Khałkhał, the Armenian army won a brilliant victory. On the way back home, the commander stopped on the left bank of the Aghstev River near the village of Aknaghbyur.
An elderly villager congratulated Vardan Mamikonian on the victory, saying:
• May your hand remain strong, and your name be immortal.
The villager handed an oak branch to the commander. Vardan Mamikonian smiled and, without saying anything or asking anything, began to dig a hole with his spear. He was helped by the minister Arshavir Kamsarakan. The oak of the commander grew strong and remained green for 1528 years. In 1978, the tree fell.

The project is implemented within the framework of the EU4Culture program “we are our mountains”, funded by the European Union. The project is being implemented by the Municipality of Ijevan and the Urban Sustainable Development Fund.