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In 1869, Armenian land gave birth to a composer, collector of folk songs, priest, music ethnologist, singer, choirmaster, teacher, and founder of the Armenian National Classical Composer School of Komitas. Soghomon Soghomonyan was born in Alatolu, in a family deeply involved in music. As he lost his parents early, his grandmother looked after him until 1881, when Soghomon was chosen among 20 candidates and entered the seminary of Echmiatsin (where he impressed the Catholicos with his singing talent) and finished it in 1893 when he became a monk. Newly ordained priests, according to church traditions, are given new names, and Soghomon was renamed Komitas after a 7th century Armenian Catholicos who was also a hymn writer. In 1893, he obtained the title Vardapet, meaning a priest or a church scholar.

Yes, this is the same Rocky Top that inspired the famous lyrics that is now the fight song for the Univ of Tennessee. This hike is one of the best hikes in the Smokies, especially if you hit the trail in June when the mountain laurel is on full display at Spence Field. Make sure to watch the video.