On February 4, 2017, with the blessings of His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and with the support of the Diocesan Headquarters, the pilgrimage of Armenian faithful of Tbilisi was organized to the Chapel of Holy Evangelists in Tsiteli village, Kvemo Kartli region. The pilgrimage was dedicated to the Commemoration of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Sons and Grandsons – Sts. Aristakes, Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris and Daniel.

Early in the morning, a big group of pilgrims from the Cathedral of Saint George and the St. Etchmiadzin Church traveled to Tsiteli village. Arriving at the Chapel of Holy Evangelists, the pilgrims lit candles and offered prayers.

The Armenian pilgrims of Tbilisi and the local faithful crowded the sanctuary, where

Rev. Fr. Husik Harutyunyan, Pastor of Armenians in Kvemo-Kartli region, Armenian Diocese in Georgia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with the participation of the clergymen Emil Sahakyan, Vardan Gulyan, Levon Akhijanyan, and the choir of the St. Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi.

During the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant preached about the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the first Illuminators of the Armenian people, and referred to St. Sarkis the Captain, who together with his son Martyros and 14 soldiers-companions was martyred for the sake of Christian faith. Father Husik in his sermon laid emphasis on the upcoming Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, which, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, is proclaimed day of blessing of the youth, and called on the attendees to celebrate the feast according to the Armenian church rites and prayers, as well as to preserve the Armenian cherished traditions. The faithful and pilgrims listened to the sermon with great interest and took Holy Communion.

The Tsiteli village has a hundred year-old history according to its elderly inhabitants. Approximately two hundred Armenian families live there, most of them displaced from Western Armenia. Armenians settled down in this safe place and preserved their language, faith and national values. During the Soviet period they didn't have churches to pray in and until recently didn't have any. The Holy Gospel Chapel was built and consecrated in 2012 with the support of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and private benefactors.