On November 17, 2015, the Akhaltsikhe Center for Civic Engagement (USAID) hosted the solemn opening of the exhibition of artists from Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia.

The state appointed officials to the local administration in Samtskhe Javakheti, representatives of Akhaltsikhe City Hall and the local and regional authorities, the Department of Cultural Affairs’ staff, members of the Armenian community from Akhaltsikhe and different art critics attended the opening ceremony.

The exhibition was organized at the suggestion and invitation of Very Rev. Father Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and Metropolitan Nikoloz Pachuashvili of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Diocese, announced during the opening of an exhibition entitled the “ARTISTS OF SAINT ETCHMIADZIN IN TBILISI” at the Hayartun Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Rev. Father Hakob Sahakyan, Pastor of Akhlatsikhe of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Director of the Vaghram Gayfechyan House of Culture, Mr. Alexander Igitkhanyan, responsible for the Department of Cultural Affairs at the City Hall of Etchmiadzin Nerses Melikyan et al welcomed the organization of the exhibition of artworks of artists from St. Etchmiadzin in Akhaltsikhe.

The Mayor of Akhaltsikhe, Giorgi Kopadze highly appreciated the organization of the exhibition and stated that similar events promote the development of Georgia-Armenia cultural exchange in Akhaltsikhe. Giorgi Kopadze invited the Mayor of Etchmiadzin, Karen Grigoryan to come any time to Akhaltsikhe, and cordially invited him to attend Akhaltsikhoba (Day of Akhaltsikhe).

On December 1, the exhibition of works of artists from St. Etchmiadzin in Akhaltsikhe will move on to Akhalkalaki and will remain on view until December 15, 2015.