On February 7, 2016, the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a traditional Harisa(Armenian dish) Festival. The festival was organized on the initiative of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia “Shushanik”, with the support of the Diocesan Headquarters. The festival has already become a wonderful tradition, where Armenian woman is presented as a skillful hostess. The celebration becomes bigger and bigger every year. This festival has been dedicated to Great Barekendan over many years.

In attendance were the Counselors at the RA Embassy in Georgia, Karen Melikyan and Karen Parunakyan, the Counsel Iren Ter-Hovhannisyan and the Second Secretary at the Armenian Embassy in Georgia, Elina Mkrtchyan, the members of the Women's Union of Georgia, the clergy of the Surb Etchmiadzin Church, leaders of community based organizations, and many faithful.

The president of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia "Shushanik", Susanna Khachatryan, opened the event. She highlighted the traditional and historical significance of the dish. The speaker expressed her gratitude to the Diocesan Headquarters, the godfather of the Surb Etchmiadzin Church Karen Sagsyan, honorable Armenians Vladimir Poghosov, Zhofre Harutyunyan, Asya Usoeva, Mikheil Mukoyan, Zhana Davtyan, Silva Hakobyan and others for provided support. She highly appreciated the members of the “Shushanik” Association who presented a national dish.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan evaluated the works undertaken by the Association of Women aimed at the preservation of Armenian cuisine as a part of the culture, transferring national traditions and passing on the Armenian identity to future generations. The Diocesan Primate congratulated everyone on the occasion of the feast, wishing them strength and endurance to spend the days of Great Lent filled with love and faith.

More than twenty pots with harisa were served in the hall. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese blessed the pots and invited the guests to taste the traditional harisa.

The festival was accompanied by the joyful performances of the Hayartun Center’s creative groups and solo performers, which added festivity to the event.