Armenian cuisine is a significant part of the Armenian culture. The aim of the activities of the community structures is the revival of its forgotten pages.

On December 11, 2016, in the courtyard of the Saint Gevorg Cathedral in Tbilisi, following the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the faithful attended the festival of traditional Armenian dish - ghapama. The Association of Armenian Women in Georgia “Shushanik” initiated the festival, with the financial support of the Diocesan Headquarters and under the auspices of the Hayartun Center. The aim of the festival was to modernize and popularize among the Armenians of Tbilisi this national dish.

Majestic ghapama, stewed and fried pumpkins, different dishes, hot tea with honey and khalva, pumpkin conserves and jams, cooked by Armenian women of Tbilisi, were laid on the tables in the courtyard of the church.

The Chairman of the Association of Armenian Women in Georgia “Shushanik”, Susanna Khachatryan, gave opening remarks. She stressed the mission to popularize the Armenian national dishes and to pass down the associated with them traditions to new generation, fulfilled by this community structure and church-loving women’s associations. The speaker noted that Armenians had prepared this dish mostly for the New Year and Easter and it had been and obligatory dish of Armenian parties for centuries.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, highlighted that Armenian community of Tbilisi traditionally connected national foods to religious festivals, referring to the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ marked with the Festival of Traditional Armenian Sweet Pastry – Gata, Eve of Great Lent or Great Barekendan marked with Harisa Festival, Festival of Dolma celebrated in the summer. The Primate connected the Ghapama Festival to the Commemoration of Pontiff St. Nikoghayos, and expressed hope that this festival would become a new tradition in the Armenian community of Tbilisi. The Bishop highly appreciated the activities of the Associations of Women aimed at the preservation of Armenian customs, transferring national traditions and passing on the Armenian identity to future generations.

Georgian MP David Chichinadze, congratulated the faithful on the occasion of the feast, and emphasized the consolidation of the community around the national traditions, which is a characteristic feature of this hospitable and ancient city.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the clergy blessed the traditional dishes.

The festival was accompanied by the joyful performances of the Hayartun Center’s Taron Dance Group, students of duduk and dhol classes, and “Ghapama” song performed by singers Ruzanna Mikaelyants and Ani Torosyan, while the attendees enjoyed ghapama and tea.