The birthday of the great Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanyan was on February 19. As every year, on the initiative of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and with the support of the Diocesan Headquarters, Armenians of Tbilisi traditionally visited the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank” and laid flowers on the tomb of the great Armenian writer born in the Lori region.

Among the Armenians of Tbilisi present for the event were poet and translator Givi Shakhnazari, poetess Marina Mosesova – Kirakosyan, Tbilisi № 104 Armenian School Principal, Irina Zhamkochyan, the Chairman of the Union of Armenian Intellectuals of Georgia, Yenok Tadevosyan, historian Norayr Baghdasaryan, employees of the Diocese, leaders of community based organizations, teachers, parents and students.

The clergy of the St. Echmiadzin Church in Avlabari conducted the repose of the soul service after flowers were laid on Hovhannes Tumanyan’s gravestone and the tombs of the Greats of the Armenian nation.

Honored teacher, Armenian language and literature specialist, Karine Hovhannisyan organized a cento featuring Tbilisi № 104 Public School 8th grade students, which was dedicated to the memory of the national poet.

The school students presented the career of Hovhannes Tumanyan - the writer, national and public activist, the faithful son of the Armenian nation - with beautiful words, touching recitations, wonderful performances of the songs inspired by Tumanyan’s poetry, inviting the people present into his always contemporary, emotional and sacramental creative world. The cento was highly appreciated by the audience.

Referring to the late Levon Ananyan’s initiative of giving books on the birthday of Hovhannes Tumanyan, the students gave books, brought with them, to the attendees.

In his closing speech, Rev. Father Manuk Zeynalyan, clergyman of St. Echmiadzin Church in Avlabari, addressed his words of appreciation to the Armenian school management and teacher for cherishing the memory of the great Armenians, passing on always contemporary Tumanyan’s ideas to future generations and active participation in the traditional event.