Plot

A gifted writer turned wartime leader, Vazgen founds the Armenian military, secures victory, and dreams of economic reform-only to be tragically assassinated in parliament. A tale of courage, sacrifice, and lasting legacy.

In a series of harrowing events, toddler Vazgen's life hangs by a thread as he chokes, unable to breathe. His mother, Greta, in a frantic state, rushes him from one hospital to another, only to be met with grim pronouncements from doctors declaring him beyond help. Refusing to accept fate, she makes one final, desperate attempt at a renowned hospital. Minutes stretch into eternity as Vazgen shows no signs of life for over an hour. In her anguish, Greta pleads with God, vowing to dedicate her son's life to a holy cause if he is spared. Then, miraculously, an experienced surgeon performs an emergency tracheotomy, restoring Vazgen's breath and pulling him back from the brink of death. As he grows, Vazgen immerses himself in historical texts, absorbing tales of Armenia's once-vast kingdom, now reduced to a fraction of its former glory. His young heart seethes with sorrow and indignation upon realizing that the biblical Mount Ararat-an enduring symbol of Armenian heritage-lies beyond his homeland's borders. Despite excelling academically and possessing a deep passion for literature, he secretly enrolls at the Sport Institute, driven by dreams of becoming a soccer player. After graduating with honors, his ambitions take an unexpected turn. His focus shifts from athletics to literature, and his free-flowing, candid writing style soon garners the attention of renowned Armenian authors, including Hrant Matevosyan. His rising literary reputation earns him a coveted spot on the editorial team of Garun magazine, setting the stage for his next great chapter. As the Soviet Union crumbles, Artsakh and Armenia's border regions come under siege by Azerbaijani forces. Amidst the turmoil, Vazgen emerges as a unifying force, rallying his countrymen to defend their homeland. With no structured army in place, he steps into the void, spearheading the formation of the Armenian military. As its founder and leader, he leads Armenia to victory, securing not only his nation's sovereignty but also the safety of the Armenian people in Artsakh. Under his leadership, Armenia's military rises to unprecedented strength, casting a formidable presence across the Caucasus. Yet Vazgen envisions more than military power-he dreams of an Armenia fortified by economic prosperity. However, before he can see this vision realized, his life is tragically cut short during a terrorist attack in parliament. This narrative deliberately avoids contemporary Armenian politics, instead offering an intimate portrait of Vazgen-the man, the leader, and the visionary. It unfolds as a deeply personal saga, exploring his acts of courage, passionate relationships, and heroic deeds, tracing the singular journey of a man who shaped the destiny of a nation.—Aramis Tatu