Great Lent in our tradition has always been a reminder that the battle for good, truth and love rages on in a world which opposes all these things.  The first Lent was a battle; Jesus’ 40-day fight against the evil one before his world altering ministry for good.  Every Lent also begins with a battle in the Armenian Church.  On the Tuesday and Thursday before Great Lent we commemorate Ghevondeants and Vartanants, recalling the great fight for Armenians to remain Christian, a battle which continues to this day.