On December 5, 2015, the Alexander Mantashev Educational Cultural Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was officially opened in Batumi.

The delegation of the Headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia headed by the Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan along with the representatives of Jinishyan Memorial Foundation, who had specially arrived to Batumi, attended the solemn ceremony.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of RA to Georgia, Mr. Yuri Vardanyan, the RA Consul General in Adjara, Guria and Imereti, Mr. Aram Grigoryan and other officials honored the opening ceremony with their presence.

The Center was acquired with the support of the RA Government (RA Ministry of Diaspora) and remodeled thanks to the funds allocated by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation. The Headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgian and the Surb Prkich Church parish raised funds to provide furnishings and finalize other aspects of interior design.

The ceremony opened with remarks from Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of Armenian community in Adjara, Guria and Imereti of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of RA to Georgia and the Director of Jinishian Memorial Foundation congratulated Batumi’s Armenian community on the opening of the Center. The speakers highlighted the activities of the Center aimed at the preservation of the mother language, development of Armenian culture, preservation of Armenian national identity, strengthening of the friendship between Armenians and Georgians. Words of appreciation were addressed to the Armenian and Georgian authorities for assisting the Armenian Diocese in Georgia in its spiritual, educational and cultural work.

The ribbon was cut to officially open the center, decorated with colorful balloons and beautiful flowers. The official opening of a plaque also took place. After that the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia presided over the home blessing ceremony.

The Head of the new center, Sona Hovhannisyan, welcomed the guests and gave a brief report. The newly renovated Educational-Cultural Center named after Alexander Mantashev runs St. Gregory the Illuminator Kindergarten (33 pupils), St. Mesrop Mashtots one-day Armenian school (two grades, more than 50 students), “Mer Apagan” (Our Future) youth association, music classes “Aghbyur” , dance classes “Heghnar”, a drama circle, recitation classes, electronic media services, psychology courses et al. A slideshow narrating the center’s renovation process followed. A video was screened bringing warm greetings from RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan to the Center’s staff and Batumi’s Armenian community.

The literary and musical concert held through the efforts of pupils and teachers of the center was a remarkable testimony of the center’s work that is imbued with national spirit and is promoting Armenian upbringing.

The Head of the Cultural Department at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and Director of the Hayartun Center, Levon Chidilyan handed out gifts from the RA Ministry of Diaspora, and on behalf of the Hayartun Center presented the Center with the miniature paintings by Tbilisi Armenian artists Meruzhan Shahumyan and Gohar Akopyan.