Celebration of the 170th anniversary of the birth of the great Armenian philanthropist Michael Aramyants started in Artsakh, in the birthplace of philanthropist, continued in Yerevan and ended in Tbilisi, the main place of his activities, an honorary citizen of which was the benefactor. On May 4 – the benefactors’ birthday, in Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi a commemorative ceremony was held. After that at the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church a memorial evening took place, where a photo exhibition telling about the life and work of Michael Aramyants was presented.
Chairman of the Patriotic Union "Lorva Dzor" ("Lori Valley"), the Head of State Language Inspectorate in RA, Doctor of Philology, Professor Sergo Eritsyan opened the jubilee evening. He introduced the grandson of Michael Aramyants from his daughter Alexander and Anna Janoevs , who took part in the anniversary celebrations, and also spoke about charitable activities of prominent Armenians. President of the Tbilisi branch of the Union of Armenian Intellectuals of Georgia Yenok Tadevosyan, Advisor to the President of Georgia Van Baiburtian, journalist Samvel Poghosyan gratefully recalled the activities of universal significance of the Armenian benefactor, and underlined the necessity to transfer them to future generations, as an example to follow. First Secretary of the RA Embassy in Georgia Artak Ghalachyan informed that, at the initiative of the Embassy, the opening of memorial board on the wall of a house in Tbilisi, 4 Machabeli Str. , where the Armenian philanthropist lived, would be held. Vahe Antanesyan, the author of the book "Episodes from the Life and Work of Michael Aramyants", told about the idea of writing about the benefactor and the support that was provided in the implementation of the initiative and the publication of this book. The audience with great interest watched the movie entitled "Michael Aramyants - Armenian with a Big Heart", which was shot by Samvel Galoyan according to the scenario of Sergo Yeritsyan. Finally the Primate of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed the audience and gave assessment of the event. He stressed the need to respect the memory of the Armenian benefactors and to transfer their charitable activities of universal value to future generations. At the suggestion of present at the event Haykaz Khachikyan, mayor of Akhtala town in RA, it was decided to move the tombstones of Tbilisi Armenian philanthropists to the Pantheon "Khojivank." The event ended with a pilgrimage of the guests and audience to the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank”. |