Jivani’s Day Was Celebrated in Javakheti |
On the 14th of July, already for the 29th time, on a traditional day for honoring Jivani (born Serob Stepani Levonian) - the outstanding representative of Armenian ashik art, the admirers of his works had gathered in the birthplace of ashik, in Kartsakh village near Akhalkalaki. The holiday started with the Divine Liturgy in the restored and consecrated a year ago Surb Hovhannes-Karapet Church, which in 1830s’ was built in Kartsakh village. The spiritual shepherd of the community Priest Tigran Mkhitaryan conducted the divine service. After the Divine Liturgy the Vicar-General of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan delivered a sermon and congratulated the faithful. A prayer for the repose of Jivani’s soul was also served after the end of the Divine Liturgy. After that the clergy together with the representatives of local authorities visited the monument to great Jivani, situated in the center of the village, and laid roses at the monument to the philosopher and publicist, moralist and composer - ashik Jivani. Akhalkalaki City Assembly chairperson Hamlet Movsisyan opened the solemn ceremony. He congratulated everyone on the occasion of the holiday and presented in detail the extensive work in the field of art, carried out in the region, as a legacy of art and culture of ashik Jivani. President of the “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia Zhora Snkhchyan also delivered a speech. The poetess Silva Sipanuhi and Gevorg Hayasan recited poems dedicated to Jivani, later, according to the program of Akhalkalaki region cultural department, the celebration in honor of Jivani began, in which song and dance ensembles and solo artists from Akhalkalaki and adjacent villages took part. At the conclusion of the event the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed the gathering of people. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan highlighted the fact that even today the soul of the great ashik Jivani directs residents of Kartsakh village and Javakheti Armenian art admirers, that his soul wanted the church in the village to be restored, that each year his art attracts thousands of people to this cozy corner of Javakheti and again and again captures by the art of ashik song, the soulful song, which spreads in Javakheti mountains, rivers, lakes and in everyone's heart. The ceremony ended with the traditional treats. The officials and heads of regional administrations and regional councils in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, representatives of various regional services attended the event. Akhalkalaki district Majoritarian MP Samvel Petrosyan and Ninotsminda district Majoriraian MP Henzel Mkoyan, Deputy Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti Region Harutyun Hovhannisyan, Van Baiburtian, Advisor to the President of Georgia and the editor of "Vrastan" ("Georgia") were also present at this event. The scientists of the Institute of History of the Academy of the Science of Armenian Republic, headed by the Director Ashot Melkonian, were among the guests, who came from the Republic of Armenia, on the traditional holiday in honor of Jivani; the members of the Board of Trustees of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, benefactors Aram Manosyan and Rafik Aghajanyan, the founder and benefactor of Gharslyan Center for Arts in Ninotsminda Armen Gharslyan, as well as public representatives, admirers of art and ashik songs lovers attended the celebration. Emotional song and poems composed by ashik Jivani sounded far into the night in Kartsakh village.
|