Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland)
“Our Fatherland” (Armenian: Մեր Հայրենիք, pronounced: mair hy-ren-IK) serves as the national anthem of Armenia. Penned by Mikael Nalbandian in 1861, with the accompanying melody composed by Barsegh Kanachyan,[1] it draws inspiration from the poem “The Song of an Italian Girl.”
Historically, the anthem’s roots lie in segments of “The Song of an Italian Girl.” Initially embraced in 1918 as the anthem of the First Republic of Armenia, its prominence waned when the Soviet forces occupied Armenian territory in 1922. Under Soviet rule, the anthem was prohibited, and Armenian nationalist sentiments were suppressed. Instead, the Anthem of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, lauding the Soviet Union, was imposed upon the populace.
However, with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the original anthem was reinstated, albeit with minor alterations to its lyrics.
Lyrics
| Lyrics | Mikael Nalbandian, 1861 |
|---|---|
| Music | Barsegh Kanachyan |
| Adopted | 1918 1991 |
Armenian Original
Մեր Հայրենիք՝ ազատ անկախ՝ Որ ապրել է դարեդար Յուր որդիքը արդ կանչում են Ազատ՝ անկախ Հայաստան Ահա եղբայր քեզ մի դըրոշ՝ Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի Գիշերները ես քուն չեղա(յ)՝ Արտասուքով լըվացի։ Նայիր նըրան՝ երեք գոյնով՝ Նըուիրական մեր նըշան Թող փողփողի թըշնամու դեմ Թող միշտ պանծայ Հայաստան Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ մեռնի՝ Բայց երանի՝ որ յուր ազգի Ազատության կըզոհվի
English translation
Our homeland, liberated, Sacred is this olden land. Her sons and daughters have now called For a free Armenia. Here, a flag for thee, my comrade, That I have sewn by my hand. Over the nights that never fade, Bathed in my tears now so grand. O, look at it, tricoloured, For us 'tis a symbol prized. The foe shall perish by its grace, Armenia shall progress! This world filled with war and death. Only once a mortal dieth Blessed is the one who sacrificeth For the freedom of his land