Unpublished Versified Martyrology and Hymn Dedicated to the Martyr Ghazar of Baberd († 1809)

What is it about?

In the literary heritage of the prominent Armenian hymnographer, pedagogue, and scribe of the 18th – 19th cc., Hovhannes Karnetsi (of Karin, c. 1750—1820), martyrological works dedicated to the Armenians martyred in the Ottoman Empire during his lifetime form a separate group. Three of these were published in 1902 and 1903 in the monumental collection “Armenian New Martyrs” compiled by Hakob Manandyan and Hrachya Acharyan. In her book dedicated to Hovhannes Karnetsi, philologist Shushanik Nazaryan mentioned another martyrological poem dedicated to the martyr Ghazar of Baberd or Baberdtsi († 1809), but did not publish its text. The text of the martyrology of Ghazar of Baberd was prepared based on the text preserved in the MS 9958 (written in Karin in 1809) of the Matenadaran, considered to be an autograph. We have compared this text with the one in the MS 8735 (XIX c., after 1809) of the Matenadaran. Unfortunately, Hovhannes Karnetsi has not provided many biographical details about Ghazar of Baberd. In the versified martyrology, some circumstances concerning the martyrdom of this “new martyr” remain unclear. We know the date of the events — 1809, the place — city of Baberd, from where Ghazar originated. The act of bravery of this martyr was praised by Hovhannes Karnetsi also in the martyrological hymn that follows the poem.

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Photo by Rafael Ishkhanyan on Unsplash

Photo by Rafael Ishkhanyan on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The current publication first aims to complete the publication of the martyrological heritage of Hovhannes Karnetsi, introducing this versified martyrology to academic circles. This is also a little step towards the continuation of the initiative started by H. Manandyan and H. Acharyan, aiming publication and study of unpublished martyrological texts.