Battle of Bash-Aparan, 27 May 1918

27 May 1918 was the decisive phase of the Battle of Bash-Aparan. On that day Armenian troops under General Drastamat Kanayan (Dro) struck a decisive blow against the Turkish forces in the Bash-Aparan area. The battle lasted from 23 to 27 May, ended in victory for the Armenian army and became a key moment in the defence of Eastern Armenia. Together with the victories at Sardarapat and Karakilisa, it played a decisive role in the proclamation of the independence of the First Republic of Armenia on 28 May 1918.

The photograph shows an open-air church ceremony. Clergymen stand at a table covered with a cloth, one of them holding a cross, and around them are armed men in fur hats and cartridge belts, as well as a man in a suit. Behind, people have gathered on a wall.