On March 5, 2016, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan presided over the Divine Liturgy held in memory of the Forty Holy Martyrs in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church, located in Avlabari, Tbilisi.

The celebrant was Rev. Father Manuk Zeynalian; he recalled the Forty Holy Martyrs, who were Christians from various towns and cities of Lesser Armenia and served as soldiers in the royal regiment of Sebastia.

They remained faithful to Christianity and accepted martyrdom. Their relicts are kept in Sebastia, where a church consisting of forty domes dedicated to the Forty Holy Martyrs later was built. The church turned into ruins after Timur Lang’s invasion.

A table, decorated with 40 candles during the service, was symbolizing the faithfulness of the witnesses to Christianity and their “crown” of martyrdom. One candle of a martyr, who could not bear suffering, was left without a flower, symbolizing his loss of earthly and heavenly life.

Following church services, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia spoke a sermon about the message of day. The Bishop encouraged attendees to follow the example of the Forty Holy Martyrs; to remain faithful to Christianity despite all the hardships of life and to resist temptations in order to deserve the Kingdome of Heaven.

At the end of the service the fathers traditionally consecrated vegetable oil, which the parish took home.