On March 2, Great Barekendan or the Eve of Great Lent at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia was marked with the Divine Liturgy celebration in Surb Etchmiadzin Church of Tbilisi; Priest Manuk Zeynalayan conducted the divine service. Harisa Festival 2014, organized under the auspices of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia by the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia "Shushanik" and the “Hayartun” Center, was also dedicated to the feast. This festival has already become a wonderful tradition in the Armenian community of Tbilisi, every year the celebration becomes grander and turns into the public celebration, where the Armenian woman – a skillful and gracious hostess presents a national dish. Our compatriots from Artsakh and the Vicariate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Samtskhe-Javakheti also participated in the Harisa Festival 2014. The visit of Harisa Festival participants from Artsakh was supported by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.

The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian, Tachat Vardapetyan, a deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, advisor of the President of Georgia for minority issues Sophio Shamanidi attended the festival, hosted by the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.

Head of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia "Shushanik" Susanna Khachaturian opened the event. She stressed that the main purpose of the festival was in association with holiday Great Barekendan (or Original Carnival) on the Eve of Great Lent to preserve and transfer this national dish, folk customs and traditions to a new generation.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian congratulated the audience on the occasion of Great Barekendan, and also informed about another holiday - Diplomatic Worker's Day marked on March 2. The Ambassador Manoukian named the public figures of the Armenian community in Tbilisi that had received national awards. He awarded the coordinator of the “Hayartun” center Levon Chidilyan with Armenian Culture Ministry gold medal, a teacher of Sunday School of the Diocese Tamara Gaboyan was awarded with RA Ministry of Education and Science “Defender of the Native Language” medal, while Chairman of the Union of Armenian Intellectuals of Georgia Yenok Tadevosyan and Head of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia "Shushanik" Susanna Khachaturian received the Certificates of Honour.

The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, touching upon 48-day Great Lent preceding Easter, wished the audience by deriving their body strength from Great Barekendan and fortifying their faith to prepare for celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His Grace sanctified the pots with harisa placed on many tables.

After that Mariam Pilavyan from Artsakh presented their Great Barekendan customs and traditions.

And joyful songs and music began to play at the “Hayartun” Center. Harisa and refreshments were served. Dance groups, experienced and beginning singers performed one after another. A joyful atmosphere, inspired by Great Barekendan and delicious flavor of harisa, reigned till late.