On March 31, 2016, a literary and musical evening marking 140 years since the birth of a prominent Armenian lyric, writer and public activist, Avetik Isahakyan, was held in Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The event was initiated by the honored teacher of Armenian language at the Diocesan “St Yeghia” Sunday school, Roza Zohrabyan.

The event was attended by diplomats from the RA Embassy in Georgia, Elina Mkrtchyan and Karen Parunakyan, poet and translator Givi Shakhnazari, the Editor of the “Vrastan” Newsletter (“Georgia”) Van Baiburtyan, the clergymen of the Diocese, many young Armenians and connoisseurs of Avetik Isahakyan’s poetry.

Glorious anniversary of the nation’s beloved poet gained special importance, as Armenian students, who started learning their mother tongue few months ago, presented Avetik Isahakyan’s biography and poetry. Their recitation, songs, quotes in Armenian, sayings of the very greats about Avetik Isahakyan, Georgian translation of his poems made the event more interesting and meaningful. The poems filled with meditations about the suffering of the nation, bitter fate of the homeland, betrayal, filial indifference, patriotism, everlasting love and maternal warmth took the people present into his always contemporary, emotional and heart-stirring creative world.

Notably, the dedicated teacher of Armenian language together with her students took part in the literary and musical evening with her speech, beautiful recitation and touching songs.

Poetess and translator Anahit Bostanjyan emphasized the teacher’s approach - through Avetik Isahakyan’s poetry, his love to one’s motherland and people, she brought torn from their homeland Armenian youth back to their roots, inspired them with the poet’s image. This is an eloquent testimony to the teacher’s great love and dedication to Armenian language and literature.

At the end of the event His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, offered his appreciation and blessing remarks. The Bishop highly appreciated the important role of the Diocesan Sunday school, which has already existed for last 20 years, in the preservation of mother language in Diaspora, particularly in Tbilisi. The Primate highlighted that since the establishment of the Sunday school Roza Zohrabyan has served her mission of spreading Armenian language with devotion and great sense of responsibility. The Diocesan Primate stressed the contribution of Avetik Isahakyan into the work of Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the cultural rapprochement between different peoples.

The evening became the feast imbued with Avetik Isahakyan’s national poetry and songs.