The lyrics of "Our Fatherland" were derived from "The Song of an Italian Girl" (Armenian: Իտալացի աղջկա երգըItalatsi aghjka yergė), a poem written by Mikael Nalbandian in 1859 and published in 1861.[1][2][3][4] In the early 20th century,[1] the music was composed by Parsegh Ganatchian.[3] Subsequently, both the lyrics (with changes) and music were adopted as the national anthem of the First Republic of Armenia, which briefly existed from 1918 to 1920.[3][5]
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the song "Our Fatherland" was reinstated as Armenia's national anthem on 1 July 1991[3] by the constituent republic's Supreme Soviet.[10] The lyrics are not identical to the 1918 version, however, because several words have been modified.[1][11] As an intrinsic element of civic education in Armenia, the anthem is one of several national symbols which are featured in classrooms of the country's schools. By dignifying the song in this manner, teachers reckon that this "encourage[s] students to sing the national anthem every day".[12]
A debate of the national anthem was a question in the Armenian Parliament in 2006 and in 2019. The new government had called for the restoration of the Soviet era anthem with newer lyrics in its place.[13]
The Italian violist Marco Misciagna composed the "Introduction and Variations on Mer Hayrenik” for viola solo, and in 2018, he played it during a concert at the Komitas Chamber Music House.[14]
In 2025, changes were made to the law on the anthem: the order of the hymn's stanzas was changed: the second stanza became the third, the third became the fourth, and the fourth became the second[15].
Lyrics
The lyrics of the national anthem promotes the worthiness of "dying for the freedom" of Armenia.[16] Its discussion of death, however, has led several commentators to complain that the anthem is overly "wimpy" and "gloomy".[5][17] Specifically, some members of the National Assembly are of the opinion that the song – written at the time of the first fight for independence – does not accurately reflect the present era of triumph and success.[18] However, none of the proposals to replace "Our Fatherland" have come to fruition,[19] as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) – which were part of the coalition government[5] – have so far resisted efforts to change the national anthem,[5][17] especially proposals to replace it with one based on the music of the anthem of the Armenian SSR.[20][21]
Our Fatherland, free, independent,
That has lived for centuries,
𝄆 Is now summoning its sons
To the free, independent Armenia. 𝄇
Death is the same everywhere,
A man dies but once,
𝄆 Blessed is the one who dies
For the freedom of his nation. 𝄇
Here is a flag for you my brother,
That I have sewed
𝄆 Over the sleepless nights,
And bathed in my tears. 𝄇
Look at it, tricoloured,
A valuable symbol for us.
𝄆 Let it shine against the enemy.
Let Armenia be glorious forever. 𝄇
Original version
The national anthem is based on the first, third, fourth and sixth stanzas of Nalbandian's poem "The Song of an Italian Girl".[26][27] The original text uses Classical spelling, which preceded the Armenian orthography reform.
^"Armenia – History". Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations (12th ed.). Thomson Gale. 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
^Dowsett, Charles James Frank; Suny, Ronald Grigor (14 March 2017). "Armenia – History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
^"Aram Khachaturian". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 14 December 2000. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
^Ter-Matevosyan, Vahram; Danielyan, Hamazasp; Sisserian, Serge-Varak; Kankanyan, Nina; Shorjian, Nayiri (2017). "Institutions and identity politics in the Armenian diaspora: the cases of Russia and Lebanon". Diaspora Studies. 10 (1): 78. doi:10.1080/09739572.2016.1239436. S2CID157417683. (registration required)
