On June 24, 2016, the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia accompanied by choirmaster Maria Abulyan, accompanier Karen Mirzoyan, the Director of the Cultural Department and the Head of the Hayartun Center, Levon Chidilyan, the Youth Department Director, Valery Badalyan, Youth Programs Coordinator, Nina Seropova, paid a visit to Dilijan Community Center. The choir operating under the auspices of Dilijan Community Center, one of IDeA Foundation programs, which realizes projects facilitating development of cultural life in Dilijan,(choirmaster Serine Khachatryan and accompanier Margarita Voskanyan) has given a performance in Tbilisi recently. This was a reciprocal visit of the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir to Dilijan.

The meeting of the students of Cultural Centers of two countries was warm and heartfelt. After Rev. Father Shavarsh Simonyan, Pastor of Dilijan, delivered a message of welcome and blessing, the Nerses Shnorhali Yourh Choir gave a performance, featuring Armenian, Georgian and Russian songs. The concert closed with songs and dance jointly performed by the choirs of two centers. The Director of the Hayartun Center presented the Dilijan Community Center with souvenirs as a token of a friendly visit.

The guests from Tbilisi learned about the structure of the Dilijan Community Center, lines of activity, classes in the arts (music, dance), computer technology, foreign languages; they were informed that 400 people of different age groups attend the Center.

In the company of Dilijan residents, the guests paid a visit to UWC Dilijan College, the school, which is the joint project of the philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend and their partners – individuals and organizations. Children were impressed by innovative teaching methods, sports grounds, swimming pool, halls, cinema hall, workshops, classrooms equipped with the most modern facilities, and made a wish to study in UWC Dilijan College.

During a visit to the Haghartsin Monastery members of the Hayartun Center’s Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir and the Choir of Dilijan Community Center became better friends. The children lit candles, raised a prayer, and performed Armenian sharakans in the ancient monastery.

After biding a fond farewell, the Dilijan residents returned to their homes, while members of the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Choir continued their route, visited Goshavank, a 12th- or 13th-century Armenian monastery, learned about Mkhitar Gosh, after whom the monastery was named, and his code of law, which earned a place in the history of Armenian and international law.