In the morning on 24 April, 2013 a crowded procession of the Armenian community in Georgia moved from situated in Avlanari Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi to the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank”. The Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian, Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakanyan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and, Advisor to the President of Georgia Van Baiburtian, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament's Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integrity Gedevan Popkhadze, the Deputy Ruslan Pogosyan, representatives of the sister Churches in Georgia the Head of Roman Catholic Church in the Caucasus Bishop Giuseppe Pazotto, the representative of the Baptist Church in Georgia Bishop Ilia Osepashvili, spiritual shepherd of the Lutheran Church Viktor Miroshnichenko - bowed to the memory of innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
They laid wreathes at khachkar, then a prayer service for the souls of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was conducted. On the same day at Surb Etchmiadzin Church under the leadership of the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan Divine Liturgy was conducted. Diplomatic staff of RA Embassy to Georgia, spiritual fathers of the sister Churches, the representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia attended the service. The sacristan at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi Priest Husik Harutyunyan conducted the liturgy. In His sermon Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan stressed the impartiality of the Armenian justice, he named the memory event consolation and urged unity for the sake of victory. During the church service, the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church read a statement of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Aram I, which urges the Turkish government to recognize the Armenian Genocide, to compensate the loss, violated national and human rights of the Armenian people, and to return immediately churches, monasteries and other church property, spiritual and cultural values to the Armenian people. Then, at the initiative of the Armenian Community in Georgia , and with the participation of the "Hayartun" Center of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and other operating in Georgia Armenian non-governmental organizations, with the national flags of Armenia and Georgia the procession headed to the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi, where a crowded protest meeting passed. The representatives of living in Tbilisi Kurdish and Assyrian communities, as well as Georgian supporters, attended the meeting along with Armenians. All the speakers on the meeting condemned the Armenian Genocide; they demanded to recognize the Genocide and to compensate for the lives of the victims, whose only crime was the fact that they were Armenians."April 24 is the day of all Armenians unity, the day of the Armenian people struggle for justice, the day of a claim for compensation, which will for sure have the logical end," - declared the head of the Armenian Community in Georgia Samvel Mkrtchyan. The Head of Georgian NGO "Irakli II Society" Archil Chkoidze called on the Georgian authorities to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, Giorgi Altunashvili bowed to the memory of innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian students from Javakheti, intellectuals, writers, representatives of Armenian youth organizations required compensation during the meeting. Patriotic and folk songs sounded. Georgian mass media covered the protest action, organized in Tbilisi in front of the Turkish Embassy. |