On March 24, 2019, presentation of "And the temple was standing on the Black Sea coast" documentary film took place at Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the "Hayartun" Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The film is dedicated to the Armenian historical Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) church in Batumi. It was shot by the initiative of the Agora-Georgia – Victoria Maxoeva organization, with the support from the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and pastor of the Saint Savior church in Batumi. The authors of the film are Victoria Maxoeva and Garik Abelyan. The hall was crowded – Armenian and Georgian officials, public figures, members of Armenian community in Georgia attended the event.
The attendees watched the film with interest. The film tells that during the Soviet era, like other Armenian churches which were operating under the auspices of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Surb Prkich church in Batumi was also confiscated by the Soviet authorities. It was deprived of its mission and turned into a warehouse, an observatory and video recording hall.
The church was built in 1898, under the sponsorship of great Armenian benefactor Alexander Mantashyants. In 1992, by the decision of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the church was returned to the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The renovated God's temple is again dedicated to the fulfillment of its mission.
Year by year, the activity of Surb Prkich church in Batumi is expanding and developing. It performs the functions of the House of God and Faith for the local population. Here all the rituals and ceremonies of the Armenian Church planned in accordance with the church calendar, as well as Divine Liturgies are offered. The church also successfully fulfills its mission of bringing Armenians of Adjara closer to the faith, their consolidation around the church, inspiring the national spirit, maintaining the native language and culture.
It should be mentioned that rare shots were used in the film.
At the end of the presentation, the teh assistant to the Pastor of Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari Rev. Father Virap Ghazaryan offered his blessings and expressed his appreciation. Highly appreciating the work done by filmmakers, Rev. Father mentioned that this film showed the story of existence of the God's temple in Batumi and the great devotion of Armenians in Batumi to the maintenance of their faith, valued the respect and love of the Armenians over the world towards their churches and urged them do not diminish their devotion towards God's temples.
Tinatin Gabelia, the representative of the Ministry of Civic Integration and Reconciliation of Georgia; Nugzar Jgerenia, Director of the National Library of Georgian Parliament; Malkhaz Malania, Director of the House of Friendship which operates under the auspices of the Sakrebulo; filmmaker Tengiz Malania, expert Vasil Papava, representatives of the Armenian community shared their opinions highlighting the necessary to bring two Christian nations closer to each other, to reserve their traditions and national values, to convey it to the generations.
The presentation ended with a reception.