HEAD OF GEORGIAN ARMENIAN DIOCESE AND ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA VISIT SAMTSKHE-JAVAKH ON OCCASION OF EASTER

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

AKHALKALAK, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The head of
the Georgian Armenian diocese Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and the
Armenian ambassador to Georgia Mr. Hrach Silvanian on March 22 visited
Samtskhe-Javakh province with the aim of celebrating Easter together
with Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakh .

In Akhaltsikhe the guests were met by the vicar of Samtskhe-Javakhk
monk Babgen Salbian, the deputy governor of Samtskhe-Javakh Samvel
Hoveyan, the deputy chairman of Akhaltsikhe regional assembly Aram
Poghosov and representatives of local youth organizations.

The guests went to Surb Grigor Lusavorich Church where priest Manuk
Zeynalian celebrated a liturgy, at the conclusion of which the head
of the Georgian Armenian diocese gave his commandment and blessing
to the Armenians of Akhaltsikhe. Then Ambassador Hrach Silvanian
welcomed the believers.

Following the liturgy, the guests were invited to festive Easter
supper.

In the evening the delegation members went to Akhalkalak.

According to the press service of the Georgian Armenian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, on March 23 Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and
Hrach Silvanian visited the Akhalkalak regional department where they
were met by the chairman of the regional assembly Khachatur Aivazian,
the chairman of the regional department Harutyun Hovhannisian and
heads of the region’s educational and cultural bodies.

During the meeting the regional heads presented the socioeconomic,
construction and road construction programs of this year. The Armenian
ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian welcomed the achievements of
the region and Georgian government’s notable investments for regional
development. The head of the diocese and the ambassador accompanied
by regional heads visited the newly-built gymnasium and the milk
processing plant under construction in Akhalkalak. Then they went
to Surb Khach Church of Akhalkalak where priest Narek Ghushchian
celebrated an Easter liturgy.

The liturgy was followed by the blessing of easter eggs, sweets
and wines.

During the second half of the day the delegation members accompanied
by heads of Akhalkakal region visited Ninotsminda. In the yard of
Surb Sargis Church they were met by priest Armash Poghosian, deputy
of Georgian parliament Henzel Mkoyan, the chairman of the regional
assembly Stepan Yeranosian, the chairman of the regional department
Suren Mosoyan and heads of regional cultural and educational
bodies. Monk Babgen Salbian, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and the
Armenian ambassador addressed Armenians who gathered in Surb Sargis
Church, saying words of congratulation. Then the guests accompanied by
regional heads went to the regional administration department where
they were informed about the 2008 activity program. The ambassador
appreciated the work of local government bodies and expressed a hope
that it will gradually be possible to overcome the socioeconomic,
educational and cultural problems with the assistance of Georgia’s
government. The guests went to see a newly-built gymnasium in
Ninotsminda.

The visit of the head of the Georgian Armenian diocese and the Armenian
ambassador to Samtskhe-Javakh ended late evening in Ninotsminda. This
visit caused great inspiration among the population of Samthkhe-Javakh.