International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages. Since 2005, International Mother Language Day has been marked on the state holiday calendar of the Republic of Armenia. International Mother Language Day was celebrated in different regions of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

On February 19, 2017, the Alexander Mantashev Educational Cultural and Youth Center in Batumi (Armenian Diocese in Georgia) hosted a celebration of International Mother Language Day. The students of St. Mesrop Mashtots Sunday School had made necessary preparations for the feast. The day’s program was organized by Satenik Danielyan, teacher at recitation classes, and choirmaster Ruzanna Ovanesyan was in charge of a musical program.

The event was attended by RA Consul General in Adjara, Yeghishe Sargsyan.

The event included historical background of the Armenian Alphabet, a play depicting the epoch and the origin of Armenian Alphabet was presented. An atmosphere of the 5th century was created in the hall: Armenian prayers and sharakans (church hymns), songs and recitations were heard. That day the children performed Kochari, an Armenian folk dance, and Mesrop Mashtots presented the Armenian children with the letters invented by him.

At the conclusion of the program, Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of Armenians in Adjaria, Guria, and Imereti, congratulated all present on the occasion of International Mother Language Day and offered his blessings. Father Ararat stressed the important activities and role of the Alexander Mantashev Educational Cultural and Youth Center in the preservation of the Mother Language outside of Armenia; he exhorted the attendees to be patriots, to live in love and unity, be united around the Armenian Church and this Armenian hearth, and to learn our golden language. On behalf of the Armenians of Batumi, Reverend Father expressed his appreciation to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, and Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora for their contribution and the provided support.

RA Consul General in Adjara, Yeghishe Sargsyan reflected on preservation of the national identity, the spiritual and national values far from the homeland.

On behalf of the parents, Armenian tennis player and honorable sportsman, Martin Khumaryan extended his words of appreciation. Director of the Alexander Mantashev Center, Sona Hovhannisyan, in her closing remarks, expressed satisfaction at the work that had been completed by the participants of the event, she highlighted the importance to treat the language with fear and as a shrine, which was reflected in the event and children’s performances. Mrs. Hovhannisyan expressed gratitude and appreciation to the students, parents, teachers and all present.

On February 19, 2017, at the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Rev. Father Yeghishe Harutyunyan, together with Rev.Father Tatev Marukyan and the faithful raised a prayer to God asking for the preservation and dissemination of the Mother Language, and paid tribute to the memory of Saint Mesrop Mashtots. Later, Rev. Father Tatev Marukyan led a procession of the faithful and the students of Akhalkalaki Youth Center to the city center, where they laid flowers near the monument to Mesrop Mashtots.

The program continued at Akhalkalaki Youth Center. The birthday of the great Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanyan is on February 19 and is marked with the tradition of giving books. Rev. Father Tatev Marukyna, on behalf of the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, presented the young teachers in attendance with the copies of the “Ode to the Mother Tongue” book.

During the event, Congratulatory message of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan to the teachers of Armenian and Georgian languages in Georgia was read. The event was organized through the joint efforts of the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the Armenian Relief Union of Georgia.

On February 21, 2017, the hall of the “Rafael Javakh” Cultural Educational and Youth Center was crowded. The last event dedicated to the Mother Language was held in the hall. Earlier the students had sent essays to the RA Ministry of Diaspora, conducted poetry recitation competitions, panel games. The event was organized by Satik Mkrtchian, tutor at Recitation classes, and choirmaster Irina Gharslyan. The best songs and poems dedicated to the Armenian language were performed and recited.

A report on the Mother Language was made by Zhora Snkhchyan.