On January 6, 2019, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Teophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The first major feast was celebrated with a Divine Liturgy in all the operating Churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. From the early morning, the faithful and their families, with joyful and festive mood, were rushing to the Armenian Church to take part in the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast. The feast of the Armenian Church was honored with the presence of Members of Parliament of Georgia Ruslan Poghosyan, Davit Chichinadze, Sergo Ratiani, Giga Bokeria, chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues Zaza Vashakhmadze, representative of the People’s Defender Isabella Osipova, Member of “National Movement” party Zaal Udumashvili, who congratulated the Armenian faithful. In attendance were leaders of community organizations, members of the public, many faithful. On the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi. The celebrant was the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. During the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia read the message of His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The message of Catholicos of All Armenians on the announcement of the year 2019 as a year of family was read. Glad tidings of the birth of newborn Jesus child and Theophany Our Lord filled of the church. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Diocesan Primate touched upon the relations of the people which share the same religion, friendship between Armenian and Georgian churches and taking into account that tonight the Georgian Orthodox Church will held Christmas celebration, on behalf of Armenian faithful and clergy congratulated the Georgian church faithful and clergy on the occasion of this great Christian feast. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan presided over the Blessing of the Waters service and faithful Christian Yuri Yeremyan became a Godfather of the Church's Cross. After the Divine Liturgy, hospitality took place organized by the Godfather. On the occasion Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ the festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated and the Blessing of the Waters service was offered in Saint Savior (Surb Prkich) church in Batumi, Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Surb Grigor Lusavorich) church in Akhaltshikhe , Holy Cross (Surb Khach) church in Akhalkalaki, Saint Sarkis (Surb Sargis) church in Ninotsminda and nearby villages as well as in temples of the villages of Kvemo Kartli, Rustavi, Marneuli regions. The celebration of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ was widely covered by Georgian mass media.
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