The activities of the Youth Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia include the celebration of the feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and going on a pilgrimage to strengthen a believer’s faith.

On March 12, 2016, on the occasion of the feast dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator (the Commemoration of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Torments and Commitment to the Pit), the Youth Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia organized a pilgrimage to the eponymous church in Akhaltsikhe. The pilgrimage was implemented at the initiative and with the support of the Right Rev. Father Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Early in the morning, 50 young Armenians united around the Church, headed by the Director of the Diocesan Youth Department, Valery Badalian, and in the company of young activists - Nina Seropova, Gevorg Poghosov and Suren Abramyan, Dn. Gevorg Antonyan, traveled to Akhaltsikhe.

The pilgrims attended the Holy Mass in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Akhaltsikhe conducted by the Pastor of Akhaltsikhe, Rev. Father Hakob Sahakyan. The attendees listened carefully to the homily offered by Rev Father Torgom Vardanyan, the Pastor of Akhaltsikhe region and nearby villages of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, about the torments which St. Gregory had suffered during his 13 years imprisonment in the pit. The people present lit candles and asked Saint Gregory the Illuminator for his intercession.

The pilgrims visited the Chapel of Sister and Brother and the Surb Nshan Church in Akhaltsikhe.

The youth from Tbilisi paid a visit to the Cultural, Educational and Youth Center in Akhaltsikhe. The Coordinator of the Center’s Activities, Eduard Ayvazyan presented the work of the local Youth Center and reflected on the future projects. The Director of the Youth Department at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia shared his working experience with the Head of Akhaltsikhe Youth Center and spoke about cooperation with the Ministries of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia and Armenia. Both sides expressed readiness to implement joint projects and events. The meeting concluded with the national dance “Kochari” performed by the Taron Dance Group of the Hayartun Center.

The pilgrims returned to Tbilisi late at night with great spiritual power from their visit to the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church.