SURB KHACH CHURCH OF DAMALA VILLAGE IN ASPINDZA REGION RE-CONSECRATED

AKHALKALAK, MAY 6, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Surb Khach (Holy
Cross) Church of the village of Damala in Aspindza region was
re-consecrated on May 1 with the participation of the head of Georgian
Armenian diocese Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and clergymen of the
diocese.

Damala is the biggest village of Samtskhe-Javakhk’s Aspindza region.
The ancestors of its residents migrated from Erzrum in 1829-1830. A
parish school was opened in the village in 1865. Surb Khach Church was
founded in the 1830s, later it underwent major repairs and was
re-opened in 1873. There is an old graveyard near the church. In the
1920s the church was closed and its priest exiled. For some time the
church was used as a warehouse, later its roof collapsed.

According to the press service of the Georgian Armenian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, a lot of people gathered in Damala village
on May 1. Among them were former residents of Damala and guests,
high-ranking heads of Samtskhe-Javakhk local government body, deputies
of the Georgian parliament, the Armenian ambassador to Georgia Hrach
Silvanian.

The guests were welcomed by Armenia-based "Karin" ethnographic dance
group that performed festive songs and dances.

The numerous guests and villagers led by clergymen went to Surb Khach
Church. The re-consecration ceremony started by the blessing of the
church, signing of salmons and sharakans (Armenian church psalms),
after which Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian performed the re-consecration
ritual with the participation of Samthskhe-Javakhk’s vicar, monk Babken
Salbiyan. Then the first liturgy was celebrated by priest Manuk
Zeynalian.

Following the liturgy, a festivity took place in the church yard, and
"Karin" ensemble gave a performance. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and
priest Babken Salbiyan addressed those present with words of blessing.
The Armenian ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian made a speech of
welcome and congratulation.

Surb Khach Church was repaired and the surrounding area was improved
with financial assistance of Damala’s former residents who currently
live in Armenia, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan and under the
supervision of deputy of the Aspindza regional assembly Emin Baloyan.