On December 5-6, 2015, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan in the company of the diocese officials paid a visit to Batumi. The guests from Tbilisi were welcomed at the Surb Prkich Church by Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of Armenian community in Adjara, Guria and Imereti, the Head of the newly renovated Educational-Cultural Center named after Alexander Mantashev, Sona Hovhannisyan, together with the staff.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the delegation members had a working meeting with the Pastor of the Church and the Center’s teaching staff the same day. After getting acquainted with the established work order, the exchange of experience took place; the issues of common interest and cooperation were discussed.

The guests headed by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia attended the official opening of the Alexander Mantashev Center, and after that went to a charity concert given at the Surb Prkich Church by Iren Avakyan, solo performer of the Saint George Cathedral choir in Tbilisi, excellent performer of classical music pieces, under the title “Entreaty”, dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

The next day, on December 16, at the Surb Prkich Church in Batumi, under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Kvemo Kartli region at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, celebrated the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Father Khoren offered a homily named “God Is Love” during the church service.

Following the church services, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan presided over the repose of the soul service of the victims of 1988 December 7th disastrous earthquake in Gyumri and Spitak.

The delegation members headed by the Primate attended the Armenian language lesson at the Alexander Mantashev Center. The Director of the Educational Department of the Diocese, Eugenia Markosyan and the Head of the Cultural Department, Levon Chidilyan presented the Center’s administration with 140 copies of textbooks and teaching aids, provided by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia to the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Presents were handed out and donations were made to the center.

The delegation of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia filled with bright impressions after the visit of the Primate returned back to Tbilisi.