From April 13 to April 15, 2015, public figure and benefactor, founder of the IDeA Foundation, Mr. Ruben Vardanyan, visited Tbilisi within the framework of EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum. On May 13, Mr. Vardanyan gave a very interesting lecture during the forum.

As a member of the Board of Trustees of the foundation for the reconstruction of the Tbilisi Saint Gevorg Vicarial Church, Mr. Vardanyan met with the Mayor of Tbilisi, David Narmania, and discussed the issues regarding the re-opening of the Saint Gevorg Vicarial Church scheduled for October. During the meeting, the Mayor of Tbilisi, David Narmania, expressed his willingness to provide assistance in order to implement the envisaged projects for the church’s re-opening.

The next day, on May 14, Mr. Vardanyan met with the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. His Grace thanked the trustees and Ruben Vardanyan personally for the provided support.

His Grace discussed future community, cultural and educational projects. Also, Mr. Vardanyan met with the construction/reconstruction personnel, project’s authors and staff and commented on their achievements.

Mr. Ruben Vardanyan, accompanied by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese, met with the President of the Agency of Religious Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Zaza Vashakmadze the same day. They discussed the issues related to the re-opening of the Saint Gevorg Vicarial Church and its courtyard landscaping. Mr. Vashakmadze expressed his readiness to attend the opening ceremony and involve the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia in providing necessary support for ensuring the realization of the project.