The Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, Patron of Love and Youth, and his son Martyros is celebrated with special love at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia. This year the Feast of Captain St. Sarkis, one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation, was celebrated on February 15. On February 14 Evening Service (Nakhatonak) on the night preceding the Feast Day was held in Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. Procession of Armenian pilgrims with icon of St. Sarkis and church banners, accompanied by sacristan of the church Priest Manuk Zeynalyan and other clergy, headed to Kharpukh, the old district of Tbilisi, where the ruins of St. Sarkis Chapel still remain.

The Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple ( Tiarn’ndaraj) is one of the most joyful and favorite feasts of the Armenian people, the celebration of which at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia started on February 13, at Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, with the Evening Service (Nakhatonak) on the night preceding the Feast Day, conducted by the clergy under the leadership of the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. During the Evening Service the faithful piously listened to the sermon about the presentation of the 40 day-old Christ Child to the Temple in Jerusalem by Holy Virgin Mary, after that the ceremony of Andastan was conducted, the four sides of the world had been blessed, while the priest lit a candle from the Holy Altar, and distributed the flame to all present, symbolizing the Light of Christ.

Great poet Vahan Terian was born in Gandza village of Javakheti region on February 9, 1885 into a large family of Priest Sukias Ter-Grigoryan. As usual many people in his native village came to celebrate this day. Terian’s poetry magic again reigned in Vahan Terian House Museum, spreading in this chimney corner the unique charm of lyric poetry.

Documentation concerning transfer of 100 thousand Lari to the Surb Gevorg Reconstruction Fund, provided for reconstruction of the Surb Gevorg church by the International Charitable Foundation “Kartu” which belongs to the former Prime-minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili.