It is a Great Lent period in the Christian churches. On March 22 Great Lent divided into two parts. The second half of Lent will continue till the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Median Day of Great Lent is called Mijink. This church feast is celebrated with a number of many folk traditions and customs. The churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, led by spiritual pastors, were ready to celebrate the church feast accompanied by folk celebration. In the evening, the Requiem Service was offered in the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
Spiritual Fathers offered their blessings and touched upon the mystery of the day wishing the faithful to pass the second half of the Great Lent period with love and faith, the second half of the Great Lent will last till the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ which this year will be celebrated on April 21 in accordance with the church calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
Staying true to the folk tradition to bake bagharj (sweet unleavened cake) of gata (Armenian pastry) on the occasion of Mijink, the Armenian Diocese in Georgia turned the feast into Armenian Gata Festival. The faithful had come to the evening service with various types of gata extending the number of participants of the festival and enriching the assortment of the Armenian gata.
Chairman of the Akhalkalaki Municipality Assembly Nairi Iritsyan, Deputy Mayor of Akhalkalaki Armen Marangozya, Head of Soprts and Cultural Department Valeri Stelmashov, members of regional assembly and other officials took part in the Armenian folk celebration at the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church in Batumi.
The celebration at the Saint Sarkis church in Ninotsminda was attended by Mayor Ani Mosoyan, Head of the department of Culture, Education and Sports of the regional administration Zhora Snkhchyan.
The celebration of Mijink at the Surb Grigor Narekatsi (Saint Gregory of Narek) spiritual, cultural, educational and youth center was attended by the staff of Rustavi Municipality, headed by the deputy mayor Konstantin Malania, as well as by the staff of RA Embassy in Georgia.
Traditional folk celebrations in the regions were marked with Armenian songs and dances performed by the students of Saint Gregory of Narek Center in Rustavi, Rafael Javakh Center in Ninotsminda and Archbishop Karapet Bagratuni cultural Center (Akhalkalaki) of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
After a short overview of the Armenian gata festival held on the occasion of Mijink in Javakheti the clergy blessed gatas and girls dressed in Armenian national dresses gave gatas to the faithful. According to the tradition some persons received blessed crosses by the Godfathers of church. Women and girls participating in the festival received gifts and certificates.
Mijink was turned into a beautiful celebration at the Surb Movses Khorenatsi (Saint Moses of Khoren) preschool of the "Hayartun" Center. On the occasion of Mijink, after the evening service the gata festival took place in spiritual superintendence of Akhaltsikhe, as well as in pastorates of Tsalka region, Arakova and Dilisika in Akhalkalaki. On March 31, Mijink will be celebrated in Batumi.
Godfathers of churches' crosses, the faithful who baked and bring with them gatas and bagharjs and gifts had their contribution in the celebration of the folk and church feast, and mainteinance of national traditions.