On October 18, 2016, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, attended a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council in the USA, within the framework of which he participated in the solemn celebration of the110th anniversary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and events organized by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

Within the exchange of cultural, educational and religious experience the Primate visited the Armenian communities of California, and had an opportunity to meet with the local Armenian faithful.

On November 6, within the framework of the visit, Bishop Vazgen, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the St. Ghevondyants Cathedral of the Diocese.

During the Divine Liturgy, a Pontifical Prayer was offered, for the 17th Anniversary of the Enthronement of the Catholicos of All Armenians. The Primate conveyed his fraternal love and respect to His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the members of the diocesan and church administration, the clergy and the faithful.

The celebrant, Bishop Vazgen presented the purposes and scope of the activity of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, spoke about the diocese’s visible achievements of recent years, touched on the issues concerning the Armenian faithful in Georgia. The Diocesan Primate highly appreciated the support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Motherland Armenia, and the Georgian authorities had provided to the Diocese.

The Primate Vazgen stated that new Georgian authorities had paid particular attention to the religious communities, including the activities of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia in the last four years. To achieve these goals, the government of Georgia established the State Agency for Religious Issues, in 2014; Zaza Vashakmadze became the Head of the Agency, who closely cooperates with the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

The Georgian authorities provide financial support to the communities, through which the diocesan functioning churches, cultural and educational centers conduct their activities, and the diocese officials and the clergy get wages. It gives us hope that thanks to cooperation with the Georgian authorities, the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Georgian society many projects will come to life and many problems can be solved.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia attended a reception held by Rev. Father Khazhak Shahbazyan, Pastor of the St. Ghevondyants Cathedral, and the Women's Guild.