Deacon Berdaksi

Deacon Berdaktsi was a 16th century Armenian verse singer.

Biographical data is missing. He was a clergyman , apparently. Deacon was named Berdaktsi after the village of Berdak, where he was born. He is known for his unique poem "Praise to the grapes, the glass and the fun" (Yerevan, Matenadaran the name of Mesrop Mashtots handwrite N3081). The poem is dedicated to wine, where the drink is presented as a divine gift, useful for everyone (from kings to the poor and disabled). Deacon inspires life in him with a tried and subtle description of the grape. Sarkavag supports his judgments with religious arguments. For him, wine as a holy symbol and wine as a drink are equivalent, if the first one nourishes the soul, then the second one - the mind. "Praise to the grapes, the glass and the fun" poem was published already in 1892, and was translated into French in 1906. Sometimes Berdaktsi's pen is also attributed to the song "I saw the queen".