On 9 May at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia the celebrations, dedicated to the Ascension of Jesus, the victory in the Second World War and the liberation of Shushi, had started.

On 9 May, 2013 the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church celebrated the Ascension of Jesus. That day after the morning service at Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi the Divine Liturgy was conducted, during which the priest, conducting the service, the spiritual shepherd of Surb Etchmiadzin Church Samvel Torosyan in his sermon spoke about the holiday.

The Feast of Holy Ascension marks the ascent of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40^th day after His glorious Resurrection. Within this time, Jesus in His teachings counseled apostles, and during the last meeting He blessed and instructed them, then ascended to Heaven.

The Feast of Holy Ascension, which is accompanied by folk celebrations called Dzhangyulum, continued in the church yard. At the initiative of the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, youth amateur Song and Dance Ensemble “Taron” headed by Narine Ghushchyan organized the celebration.

Girls and brides decorated with wreaths, young guys and a lot of believers had gathered in the courtyard of Surb Etchmiadzin Church. Sacristan of the church Priest Manuk Zeinalyan spoke about the feast and congratulated everyone on the occasion of the Feast of Holy Ascension. The folk celebration began under the sweet sound of the song “Hambardzoum Yayla” (Merry Ascension), in which Youth Song and Dance Ensemble “Taron”, dance ensembles “Jeyran”, “Ani” and “Vanq”, solo performers Ani Ghushchyan, Ruben Voskanyan and Hovhannes Shakhnazaryan took part.

The students of St. Movses Khorenatsi Kindergarten of the “Hayartun” Center transformed into the living flowers and made the holiday especially charming with recitals and wonderful dance. Liza Torosyan, a student of Tbilisi school № 104, opened the celebration, she announced Armenian songs and dances and invited everyone to the Feast of Holy Ascension, which is one of the traditional folk festivals and is similar to feast of flowers and awakening of spring beauty.

On 9 May, exhibition entitled "Armenian Golgotha”, dedicated to the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which was organized at the initiative of the Union of Armenian Artists of Georgia and with the support of the Vicariate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Samtskhe-Javakheti, was dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the liberation of Shushi. The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Vicar of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan, Metropolitan of Georgian Orthodox Church of Akhalkalaki Nikoloz, chairperson of the regional council of Akhalkalaki Nairi Iritsyan and others attended the opening of the exhibition.

Merujhan Shahumyan, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Painters of Georgia, opened the exhibition and congratulated everyone with the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the liberation of Shushi. The Vicar of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan blessed the audience.

Akhalkalaki City Assembly chairperson Hamlet Movsisyan, Chairman of the Young Artist Association of Javakhk Haykazun Karagulyan, the local school Principal Karlen Karapetyan, President of “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia Gevorg Snkhchyan welcomed the opening of the exhibition.

The Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed the audience and congratulated everyone on the occasion of the Feats of Holy Ascension, and the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the liberation of Shushi. The concert, organized by the students of Youth Center, completed the event.

On the same day, in the evening, at the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, under the leadership of the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan and headed by the spiritual supervisor of Armenians in Akhaltsikhe and surrounding areas Abegha (Monk) Hakob Sahakyan the evening service and the ceremony of Andastan were conducted. Representatives of the local authorities and a many other people attended the ceremony in honor of the Ascension of Jesus. In connection with the liberation of Shushi and the celebration of Holy Ascension, a concert of folk songs and dances, organized by the Armenian Youth Educational-Cultural Center in Akhaltskhe, took place in the churchyard and was attended by the Head of the Diocese.

At the end of the event the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia blessed the audience and congratulated with the liberation of Shushi and the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan also spoke about the the importance of the great victory and the liberation of Shushi.

After that the Head of the Diocese and his escort visited the Union of the Creators named after Vahram Gayfechyan, where the meeting with Armenian artists, intellectuals and representatives of the local community took place.

The festive atmosphere in Akhaltsikhe lasted until late evening.

In communication with the Feast of Holy Ascension, the spiritual shepherd of Surb Prkich Church in Batumi Priest Ararat Gumbalyan conducted the Divine Liturgy. After that, in association with the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the liberation of Shushi, the Armenian community handed the holiday presents to the living in Batumi veterans of the Patriotic War.

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