Akhkiorpi is a village in Marneuli region with a three hundred year-old history. All the religious events and ceremonies here used to be conducted in the beautiful Khuchap Armenian Monastery. However, because of the problems related to the ‘ownership’, the local population is now unable to conduct Christian ceremonies in the monastery. In order to enrich their spiritual life, the Armenian Diocese in Georgia organizes on-site Divine Liturgies, church holidays and religious ceremonies.

The mass baptism was conducted on June 6, 2015, by the Rev. Fr. Ter Manuk Zeynalyan. It took place in the courtyard of the church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God Church) built in 1861, with the participation of the delegation from the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the representatives of the ‘Hayartun’ Center and visiting pilgrims.

Rev. Fr. Ter Manuk Zeinalyan read the sermon of the sacrament of the day recalling Saint Gregory, the Illuminator and his release from the pit. Father conducted the ceremony in accordance with Christians canons and annointed with the sacred chrism, more than seventy people of different ages.

A wonderful concert was conducted after the ceremony in the square near the local public school with the support of the School Director, Violet Sukiasyan, Village Headman, Grigol Atabekyan and the Director of the ‘Hayartun’ Center, Levon Chidilyan. The ‘Taron’ Dance Ensemble, solo performers Anna Poghosova, Ani Hovhannisyan, Ruzanna Mikaeliants, Hovhannes Shahnazaryan and Liza Torosyan, under the musical direction of Sergey Arutyunov, took part in the concert, presenting contemporary and Armenian song and dance performances. Almost all the villagers and guests from Tbilisi joined the traditional dance ‘Kochari’.

During the concert, Levon Chidilyan and Rev. Fr. Ter Manuk Zeinalyan congratulated the baptized congregants and gave them baptism certificates. As part of the ceremony the Matagh (Thanksgiving Animal Sacrifice) was offered.