The Armenian Army Day was celebrated in a special way in the Armenian community of Tbilisi. On January 28, 2017, Armenian intellectuals, community officials, civil society members, led by the diplomats from the RA Embassy in Georgia and the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, with the participation of the clergy, laid flowers on the tombs of Armenian generals Mikhail Loris-Melikov, Ivan Lazarev, Boris Shelkovnikov, Arzas Ter-Ghukasov, in the courtyard of the Saint Gevorg Cathedral. In the absence of Armenian statehood, former eminent Armenian military men in Tbilisi not only served in the Imperial Russian Army, but participated in the liberation of primordial Armenian land and supported Armenians during the Russo-Turkish Wars. Those eminent military men became part of the officer corps of the armed forces of the First Republic of Armenia and won the battles of historical significance in the future.

The commemoration went forward at the Saint Gevorg Cathedral, where the attendees lit candles and prayed in memory of the Armenian soldiers, who had died at all times in different countries. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, presided over a Repose of Souls service, incense was burned.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia reflected on the mystery of the day, reminisced about how, being a Staff Bearer of Catholicos of All Armenian, His Holiness Vazgen I, of Blessed Memory, he had participated together with the Supreme Patriarch in the first military parade of the newly formed Armenian army on Republic Square in Yerevan. The Bishop stressed the contribution of the late Catholicos Vazgen I and Karekin I to the establishment of the Armenian army. The Primate noted that during the reign of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, following the tradition of former church leaders in the Armenian Army’s establishment, the service of the clergy in the Armenia’s military forces is of great importance.

The Galouste Gyulbenkyan Hall of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a celebration on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. In attendance were diplomats from the RA Embassy in Georgia, participants of the Artsakh war, the diocesan officials, the clergy, civil society members. The event was opened with the Lord’s Prayer and the blessings of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

A minute of silence was observed in memory of those killed in military service, noting in particular the soldiers killed during the 4-day April war. Director of the Cultural Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Levon Chidilyan, who served as a master of ceremonies, congratulated the people present on the occasion of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Day. The screening of documentary about the creation of the Armenian Armed Forces, was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the victorious Armenian Army.

Armenia's military attaché to Georgia, Colonel Samvel Ramazyan, referred to the glorious pages, the Armenian army wrote in the history of thousands of years; highlighting that the absence of an independent Armenian statehood lead to the dissolution of the army from time to time. The speaker reminisced about the period after the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia, when Armenians were pushed into the struggle of life and death, and a foundation was established for the Armenian army; he highly appreciated the service of the Armenian soldiers, who keep the borders of our country in peace, defend our nation and Homeland.

At the end of the event, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, made closing remarks and offered his blessings.

A concert dedicated to the Armenian Army, the Armenian soldiers and Armenia, was held, musical numbers were performed by singers Anna Badalian, Nina Karapetyan, Ani Hovhannisyan, Genrikh Petrosyan, and the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Youth Vocal Ensemble of the Hayartun Center. Joint performance of “Hayastan” song, as the epitome of victories and revival, was dedicated to the pride of all Armenians - the powerful and efficient Armenian army.