On the occasion of the first major feast of 2017, the Feast of Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Liturgy was held in the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. On the evening of January 5th, a Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint George and the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the crowded with faithful Saint Etchmiadzin Church. Before the Holy Mass, an Evening Service was held and passages from the Holy Bible were read. During the Divine Liturgy, the Bishop in his homily referred to the mystery of the Nativity and Theophany of our Savior. The Primate exhorted the faithful to ask Almighty God to make the light of His wisdom shine in their minds, hearts and lives, so that their souls would transform into the manager of Bethlehem, where the Light can shine and Love can dwell, glorifying in their life and faith. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Primate lit the life-giving candle. The assembled faithful took lit candles and lamps home symbolizing the divine light. Following the Divine Liturgy, the procession of clergymen led the Bishop to the Hayartun Center, where a Home Blessing Service was conducted.

On January 6, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Saint George. The Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Zaza Vashakmadze; the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili; the Advisor of the President for Minority Issues, Sopio Shamanidi; the Chairman of Tbilisi Assembly (Sakrebulo) Giorgi Alibegashvili; Georgian MPs Ruslan Poghosyan and David Chichinadze; the Counselors at the RA Embassy in Georgia, Karen Melikyan; state officials and public figures visited the Armenian Church and attended the Holy Mass on the occasion of the feast.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia read the Message of His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news of the Nativity of Christ child and Theophany filled the church.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, under the leadership of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan the ceremony of the Jurorhnek, or the "Blessing of Water" was held. Yuri Yeremyan, a devoted son of his nation, became once again the "godfather of the Church Cross".

Following the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Vazgen welcomed the Georgian government representatives in the Armenian Church.

After the conclusion of the service, the traditional Armenian Gata (pastry) Festival took place. Giorgi Alibegashvili, Zaza Vashakmadze, Ruslan Poghosyan, David Chichinadze, Karen Melikyan and Givi Shakhnazari congratulated the Armenians of Georgia on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, conducted the Divine Liturgy at Akhalkalaki’s Surb Khach (St. Cross) Church and congratulated the faithful.

The Chairman of Adjara’s Supreme Council, David Gabaidze; a member of the Supreme Council, Ilia Verdzadze; the Minister of Education, Science and Sports Inga Shamilashvili; Batumi Mayor Giorgi Yermakov; Consul General of Republic of Iran in Batumi Huseyn Mashhadi; RA Consul General in Batumi, Yegishe Sargsyan visited Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior) in Batumi and congratulated the Armenian faithful on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The attendees taking blessed water returned home in a festive mood.