On February 4, 2016, under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, to mark the Feast of St. Vartan the Captain and his 1036 Companions the Divine Lirutgy was celebrated in the Saint Gevorg Cathedral in Tbilisi. The celebrant was Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Kvemo Kartli region at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

It was the first Divine Liturgy dedicated to Vartanantz Day, which was celebrated at the altar consecrated in the name of Saint Vartan Mamikonyan and His Companions in the reconstructed church.

Rev. Fr. Khoren Hovhannisyan started his sermon with the words of the historian Eghishe, "Unconscious death is death, conscious death is immortality", which became the slogan of the Armenian people in their daily struggle for survival. The Armenian soldiers’ service, who are standing on duty and guarding the borders of our fatherland, is an eloquent testimony to that fact. Father Khoren offered a sermon reflecting on the mystery of the day; he called upon the Armenian community to remain faithful to St. Ghevond’s and St. Vardanantz’ memory and legacy, to be ready to sacrifice their lives in the name of faith and Homeland.

The Diocesan Primate presided over the repose of the soul service during the Divine Liturgy.

The Feast day of St. Vartan the Captain and Companions is also celebrated as the Naming Day of His Holiness Karekin II. To mark the occasion, at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, a Pontifical Prayer was offered before the Holy Altar. A joint prayer service was offered for the vibrancy and glory of the Catholicosate of All Armenians, wishing the Supreme Patriarch a long and healthy life. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese extended his message of blessing to the faithful and the clergy, referring to the victory obtained in the struggle for survival, freedom gained through strength of mind, steadfastness in Christian faith and defense of the motherland. The Bishop reflected on the meaning of the Vardanants War for the Georgian people, highlighting the struggle of two neighboring nations, Armenians and Georgians, for freedom and Motherland under Vartan Mamikonian and Vakhtang Gorgasali. The Primate congratulated all those whose Naming Day is celebrated on the Feast of St. Vartan. In observance of the feast of St. Vartan the Warrior and His Companions Divine Liturgy was celebrated in all the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.