On May 29, 2016, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.

On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

From the early morning, the Armenian faithful of Tbilisi walked to the Cathedral of St. George in Tbilisi and the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Avlabari to take part in the Divine Liturgy.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan conducted the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Avlabari.

The Holy Mass was attended by the delegation of the Writers Union of Armenia, led by the chairman Edward Militonyan, diplomats from the RA Embassy in Georgia, intellectuals and many faithful.

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan offered a homily about the message of the feast, the day when the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was established, according to the inspired vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator, which is described by Agathangelos, the writer of the present history. The Primate spoke about the Armenians’ dedication to the faith spread by the first Catholicos of the Armenian Church, the values that form the Armenian identity and are being preserved by the Armenian Church, led by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. “Owing to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the church sacraments and rites, national traditions and cultural values are being preserved, enriched and passed down from generation to generation in Armenia and the Diaspora. And this is the guarantee for the longevity of our national identity, our Holy faith and our precious language, ” – stressed the Diocesan Primate, calling upon the faithful sons and daughters to be united around the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and exhort the Almighty to protect and keep safe Armenia, the Holy Etchmiadzin and Georgia.

Following the Divine Liturgy, under the presidency of the Primate a Pontifical Prayer was offered. The Clergy and the faithful raised their prayers to God asking for vibrancy for the Holy Etchmiadzin and for the strength and good health of His Holiness.

Following the service, at the initiative of Rev.Fr. Narek Ghushyan, Pastor of the Church, a trade fair for sweets was held in the yard of the Saint Etchmiadzin Church. All proceeds will be used to support the diocesan social programs.