St. Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia (conductor Mara Abulian) and individual performer of the Center Ani Ghushchian (artistic director Pavel Oganezov) took part in the “Komitas Vardapet” Pan-Armenian Festival, organized at the initiative of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. “Agbyur” Choir of Surb Prkich Church in Batumi at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia under the guidance of conductor Ruzanna Hovhannisian also participated in the festival from Georgia.

The choirs and individual performers, participating in the “Komitas Vardapet” Festival launched on September 26, performed on stage in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Etchmiadzin. St. Nerses Shnorhali Choir within the framework of the festival appeared on stage for the first time at № 21 School in Gyumri, where among other festival participants the choir performed “Hoy Nazan” by Komitas. Later the performance took place at № 1 Music School in Vanadzor.

Ani Gushchyan, who represented the “Hayartun” Center, impressively sang “Chinar es” accompanied by Karen Mirzoyan. The young singer performance was welcomed with warm applause.

It is notable that, including the aim of the festival to bring the Armenians closer to the greatness of Komitas Vardapet and his unique works, within the framework of the festival cognitive events were also organized. In this respect Harichavank Monastery became the first refuge of St. Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir. Here the local deacon happily told about Komitas Vardapet, described in detail the days that he had spent at Harichavank. After that the representatives of Armenians from Georgia visited Vardablur village in Lori region, where district administration employee Mher Melikian met and familiarized them with the local Armenian culture.

The organizers, RA Ministry of Diaspora and Minister herself paid a lot of attention to the participants. Levon Chidilian, the coordinator of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, artistic director of the center Pavel Oganezov, conductor Mara Abulian and the head of electronic media Valera Badalian also attended the meeting with RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan in Yerevan. In response to the proposal to spread in the Diaspora the events that contribute to the preservation of the Armenian national identity, the coordinator of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia Levon Chidilian reiterated the readiness of the “Hayartun” Center to continue the activities for the good of the nation. The coordinator of the center presented RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan the painting by famous Tbilisi Armenian artist Tengiz Mikoyants.

On October 3, the solemn closing ceremony of the “Komitas Vardapet” Pan-Armenian Festival was held at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. RA First Lady Rita Sargsyan, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, state and public figures and fans of Komitas’s music attended the event. The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian was also invited to the event.

“The “Komitas Vardapet” Pan-Armenian Festival helped unite spiritual and cultural figures of the Armenian Diaspora to present the art of Komitas. These days we even saw how the Japanese, Germans and Turks performed the songs of Komitas,” Hranush Hakobyan mentioned in her speech. It is remarkable that during her speech Hranush Hakobyan addressed kind words to the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and its Primate. Minister Akopyan, by the example of the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, underlined the Church’s role in the preservation of the Armenian national identity, highlighting the activities aimed at unification of Armenian community around the church, preservation of Armenian language, culture and traditions, Armenian education of the new generation and transferring them ancestral values. She bowed before the Head of the Diocese for the proper organization of activities aimed at the preservation of national identity.

St. Nerses Shnorhali Choir at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia was given the honor to take part in gala concert. The choir wonderfully performed “Kakavik” by Komitas. The choir also took part in group performance of songs by Komitas conducted by maestro Hovhannes Chekijyan.

The participating choirs and individual performers received certificates of participation and gifts from RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Indelible impressions, received during the “Komitas Vardapet” Festival organized by RA Ministry of Diaspora, for the participants from the “Hayartun” Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia ended with visit to newly-built Surb Hovhannes Church in Abovyan.