Doctor Who Saved Hundreds of Lives Could Not Be Saved Himself: Narek Passed Away

The rector of Yerevan State Medical University, Armen Muradyan, writes on his Facebook page: "Our contemporary heroes: Narek Mesropyan. Our Narek has fallen in the battlefield while fulfilling his professional duties... YSMU presents to the public the heroic students who have perished as a result of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan.

Narek Mesropyan was a major in the medical service and a clinical ordination at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Mikayelyan University Hospital. He died in the battlefield performing his professional duties. "He shone in all areas since childhood—at school olympiads, in the arts... he sang, was a professional pianist, an actor, but ultimately devoted himself to the most humanitarian profession—the mission of saving lives,” says his wife, Anna Simonyan, adding that Narek never boasted about his feats and was extremely reserved and modest; that is why they were not even aware that during this war, he had been appointed as the head of the medical service of the Khojalu infantry battalion.

From the first day of the war, so that his family would not worry, the military doctor told them he was in a safe place. Only after the incident did the family members learn of Narek's heroics from friends. "I spoke with his comrade-in-arms, who is also currently in service. He promised that he would definitely tell about Narek's many heroics. Narek managed to save many soldiers' lives. On the day of the incident, he and his friend rushed to provide aid and transport the wounded at the front, but he forced his friend to get out of the vehicle, saying, ‘You have already gone for the wounded once today; this time I will go.’ He went and never returned...,” details the hero's wife.

Narek also actively participated in the April War, being in one of the most dangerous spots in Talish. In that war, he also evacuated more than 100 wounded from the battlefield, saving their lives, and was awarded the “Bravery” medal. "After the April War, his commander, the hero of Artsakh Karen Jalavyan, and his combat friend tell that during a severe shelling, without waiting for the fire to cease, he rushed into the battlefield to bring out the wounded, preventing the amputation of a soldier's legs seconds before his arrival. And there are many such cases,” quotes Anna Simonyan.

A young man approached Narek’s sister at the conservatory and inquired if Mesropyan Narek was her brother. After her response, he said that he lives thanks to Narek, as he was saved during the April War because of Narek. His wife proudly emphasizes that Narek was wholly dedicated to his family, a caring father, and an exemplary husband. "Narek was very humble, kind, hardworking, friendly, and humanitarian,” notes Arthur Papikyan, an associate professor at the Department of Surgical Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, whose department Narek completed his clinical internship in for two years. Papikyan emphasizes that it is impossible to speak about an YSMU student without positive memories.

According to another colleague, maxillofacial surgeon Hayk Sargsyan, although Narek saved many lives during the April War, he never liked to talk about his professional feats on the front line. This was known to them only from his combat comrades. On October 11, after sustaining severe injuries, Narek Mesropyan was transported to Yerevan. "He fought for his life for a week. Upon opening his eyes, the first question he asked was, ‘Has the war ended?’ We said yes, it is all over, everything is fine; however, life proved unfair to Narek. A doctor who saved hundreds of lives could not have his life saved. On October 19, Narek passed away,” his wife adds. The modern hero was buried in the "Yerablur" military pantheon. He was originally from Artsakh and had gone to defend his homeland.