The last of the five Great Feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church –Khachverats or the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross was solemnly celebrated at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.

On the 15^th of September Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi was crowded. The feast celebration started with the Divine Liturgy. The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan conducted the divine service. At the end of the Divine Liturgy His Grace delivered a sermon in connection with the holiday, told about the return of the Holy Cross from captivity and its elevation on Golgotha, from whence the holiday took its name Khachverats or “Srbkhech” (the Holy Cross).

The same day the ceremony in commemoration of the Holy Cross exaltation accompanied by religious hymns was held at Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Avlabari district. At the end of evening service the Cross procession took place. Under the leadership of spiritual shepherd of Surb Etchmiadzin Church Priest Samvel Torosyan and sacristan of the church Priest Manuk Zeynalyan the Cardinal Points of the world were blessed with the Cross, the priests went around the four sides of the church and sanctified the people by sprinkling rose water upon them. After the Cross procession, accompanied by religious hymns, they sanctified basil, which is considered the flower of the cross. After that the sanctified basil was given to the faithful.

The Feast Khachverats was celebrated with the Divine Liturgy at all operating churches of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.