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Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church Re-consecrated in Lomaturtskh Village of Samtskhe-Javakheti PDF Print E-mail
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On June 11, 2017, with a population of only 350 and located on the southern slope of the Trialeti range the Lomaturtskh village of Akhalkalaki region looked charming . The villagers, children and adults alike, people who had left the village and their families, friends and relatives had come to participate in the solemn ceremony of re-consecration of the newly renovated Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church rebuilt 111 years after its first consecration. During the Soviet era, the ancient church had turned into a storage room for collective farmers, a bridal salon and a hall for conducting ceremonies following funerals, and was quickly forgotten.

The worthy sons of the village -Sedrak and Artur Khachaturyans - spent their childhood in the church courtyard and would hear their parents - Vard and Nunufar - often express pity about the church that was on the verge of collapse. In 2016, the brothers decided to renovate the dilapidated church and provide their fellow villagers with the opportunity to live according to faith in God, say prayers, get married with the blessing of God, and be baptized with the Holy Muron.

In a short period of time, with the participation of young builders from the village and through the coordinated efforts of local resident Gevork Iritsyan, the church was restored under the sponsorship of the benefactors - brothers Khachaturyan.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan; with the participation of Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; consecrated the church. Following the Opening of the Doors (Drnbatsek) Service, the Primate blessed the Holy Table, the 16 columns and basin for baptisms with the Holy Chrism.

Among the attendees of the solemn ceremony were Member of the Parliament of Georgia Henzel Mkoyan; Hamlet Movsisyan, the Chairman of Akhalkalaki’s Regional Assembly; Eduard Aghasaryan, Akhalkalaki’s Head of the Administration; President of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto Board of Trustees, Ohan Ohanyan; research workers at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Sona Nersisyan and Lusine Tanajyan; guests from Georgia, the USA, different cities across Russia and many faithful.

Rev.Father Tadeos Ter-Mkrtchyan, Pastor of the Surb Gevorg Church in the Arakova village of Akhalkalaki region and nearby villages, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the newly renovated and re-consecrated church. The candles were lit for the first time. After 111 years interval, during the Divine Liturgy, the faithful received the sacrament of Penitence and Holy Communion.

The consecration of the Surb Prkich Church was followed by a concert, which was held in the area near the church. The principal at the village public school, Hovhannes Shuragyan presented the history of the Lomatsurtkh village, touched upon the renovation of the church and expressed his appreciation to the dedicated sons of the Armenian nation for their charity.

On the occasion of the consecration the speakers expressed their gratitude to the worthy children of the village, who have left their homeland, but remain attached to their native people, native land and continue making contributions to welfare of the motherland with dedication. Later, village youth and school children organized a concert.

The event ended with a reception organized by Sedrak and Artur Khachaturyans.

The ancestors of present residents settled in Lomatsurtkh village of Akhalkalaki region in 1837, after migrating from the Alvar and Bahar villages of Basen province of Erzerum, Western Armenia, in 1829, settled in the Ekhtila village and then resettled in the Lomaturtskh village. This creative and hardworking people had felt the need to go to church and decided to build one. The Surb Prkich Church was consecrated only in 1906. Agriculture and cattle breeding are the main occupation of the villagers. Intellectuals comprise the majority of the population. The Lomaturtskh, Azavret, Burnashet and Ghadolar villages comprise the Azavret territorial unit. The Lomaturtskh village is up to 2,100 meters above sea level.

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