On June 16, 2018, at the initiative of the Youth Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, a one-day pilgrimage of the Armenian faithful of Tbilisi was organized to the sanctuaries of Shirak Province, Republic of Armenia. Receiving the blessings and good wishes of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, over 50 Armenian pilgrims from Tbilisi, led by Director of the Youth Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia Valeri Badalyan and Deacon Gevorg Antonyan, from Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari departed for Yot verk (Seven Wounds) church, built in the 18th century in the city of Gyumri (Republic of Armenia).
Pilgrimage is desirable due to its mystery of being closer to the Almighty God, lighting candles and pray. The pilgrims were in a happy mood, with strong willingness to withstand hardships of the pilgrimage route and expectation with love for participation in spiritual ceremonies.
The day was remarkable. The purpose of Armenian pilgrims from Tbilisi was to take part in the celebration of Divine Liturgy dedicated to the Feast of the Discovery of the Relics of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Gyumri. The pilgrims arrived at the church in the end of the Divine Liturgy. Nevertheless, they partook of Confession and took Holy Communion. With purified souls and deep love for God the pilgrims lit candles and prayed with whole their heart in the ancient church.
The visit to Marmashen was interesting and fascinating for pilgrims. Here they prayed at the Katoghike church, built in the 10th century, which at that period had united five churches, but today two temples are standing and here the number of tourists and pilgrims does not reduce. Periodically Divine Liturgies are celebrated and ritual ceremonies offered at these two temples.
The pilgrimage of the Armenians of Tbilisi also had secular saturation. The Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, Painter, Professor Susanna Mkrtchyan invited the guests to visit National Aesthetic Center in Gyumri, which was established by famous artist and is headed by her for almost four decades. Outside, in front of the building, the guests were welcomed by the directorate and attended concert, organized by her students.
Afterwards, Armenians from Tbilisi, headed by the Director, toured the classrooms, halls and cabinets of the center located at the 1.200sq. km area. The aim of the National Aesthetic Center in Gyumri is to maintain and spread Armenian traditional handicrafts. 450 students aged from 3 to 18, attend the Center and studies skill of the traditional handicrafts and arts every day. With indelible impressions and sense of pride the pilgrims wished the Center, its director and pedagogical staff all the best and continued their journey.
The pilgrims watched with admiration the “Heghnar Aghbyur” (“The Fountain of Heghnar”) fountain monument which was built in the exactly same way and in the same place as in the immortal story “Heghnar Aghbyur” written by Mkrtich Armen. The solemn reopening of the “Heghnar Aghbyur” took place just one week ago near the Marmashen Monastic complex in the village of Vahramaberd, in Shirak Province. The mystery of the renovated and reconstructed “Heghnar Aghbyur” is maintenance of the traditional family loyalty and preservation of honor and morality has become a message for Armenian families due to the characters created by Mkrtich Armen.
The Armenians of Tbilisi returned home in the late evening of the same day with unforgettable impressions.
The Yotverk (Seven Wounds) church, also known as Saint Astvatsatsin church (Holy Mother of God), is located in Gyumri. In XVII century, princes of the Kamsarakan family built a chapel on the site of the church, where the icon “Seven Wounds” was kept. That is why the newly built church (1873-1884) was called “Seven Wounds”. It is also unique because it has five different Altars for communities of different religious beliefs. The main Altar of the church was for the Armenian Apostolic Church, where only Armenian clergymen could celebrate Liturgies. In the result of the earthquake in 1988, the two domes were damaged and fallen, but then the church was renovated and now it operates with its full saturation.