On 31 March 2013 Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church solemnly celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus of Christ. Holy Easter services were also conducted in the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia. The Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian made a pilgrimage to Adjara. On Saturday under the leadership of His Eminence the Festive Mass "Chragaluyts" - lighting the torches- was held on the eve of the Lord's Resurrection at Surb Prkich Church in Batumi.
On Sunday, in honor of the Resurrection, the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian conducted the festive Holy Liturgy at Surb Prkich Church in Batumi with the participation of many believers.
During the Liturgy, His Eminence read the Patriarchal exhortation and blessing of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in honor of Easter Sunday, which was addressed to the Armenian Diaspora throughout the world, and proclaimed the good news: "Christ is risen." In honor of the Resurrection, under the leadership of Vicar of Samtskhe-Javakhk Hieromonk Babken Salbiyan the festive Holy Liturgy was also held in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. In the evening of 30 March, 2013 the Festive Mass "Chragaluyts" was held at Surb Etchmmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. The Spiritual Shepherd of the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi Priest Narek Ghushyan conducted the Liturgy; at the end of the service he announced the good news of the Lord's Resurrection. After that the clergy of Surb Etchmiadzin Church under the ringing of bells and congratulations of the believers came out into the yard of the church and conducted the ritual of sanctifying the residence of the "Hayartun" Culture Center. On Sunday many believers gathered in the courtyard of Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. The morning service, the ceremony of Andastan, and after that the Holy Liturgy in honor of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ were conducted in the church. The members of the Parliament of Georgia Gigi Tsereteli, Ruslan Poghosyan, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili, Minister of Penitentiary, Probation and Legal Assistance of Georgia Sozar Subari, the Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia Tamar Kintsurashvili, Advisor to the President of Georgia Van Baiburtian, Adviser of Armenian Embassy to Georgia Levon Torgomyan, officials of the community and many Armenians attended the festive Divine Liturgy. The priest, who conducted the Divine Liturgy, expressed his gratitude to the Georgian officials, who out of respect came to congratulate the Armenians living Georgia on the occasion of the Lord's Resurrection. In connection with the celebration of Holy Easter Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili congratulated the Armenian Community in Georgia. Georgian mass media covered the celebration of the Holy Resurrection in the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia. |