Nerses Ashtaraketsi lived and worked during a period when the fate of Eastern Armenia was being decided amidst wars and major political upheavals. During the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, he championed the cause of Armenian liberation, facilitated the formation and organization of Armenian volunteer forces, and sought to safeguard the interests of the Armenian population. In 1843, he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians—the last Catholicos to have been born within the territory of Eastern Armenia until the time of Karekin II. Who was Nerses Ashtaraketsi, and why has he gone down in history as the "Defender of the Fatherland"? What was his vision for the future under the aegis of the Russian Empire? What key issues became the focus of his efforts following the capture of Yerevan and the Treaty of Turkmenchay? Why is the Nersisyan School in Tiflis considered one of the most significant hubs of the national educational and cultural awakening?
