On February 26, 2017, the Christian world celebrated Bun Barekendan (or Eve of Great Lent). The feast, celebrated on the Eve of Great Lent, was also marked with the Divine Liturgy and celebration event in the Armenian community of Tbilisi.

Following the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Avlabari, the faithful attended the Harisa Festival 2017, dedicated to Great Barekendan, in the Hayartun Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The festival was organized by “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia and the Hayartun Center, with the support of Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Harisa festival celebrates fifth year. It has already become a wonderful tradition, where Armenian women serve the Armenian harisa dish. The celebration becomes bigger and bigger every year.

Nearly all structures of the Armenian community in Tbilisi participated in the festival. More than thirty pots with rich and delicious harisa were served in the Galouste Gulbenkina hall of the Diocesan Hayartun Center. Church-loving Women’s Association at the Cathedral of Saint George, Vank Dance Ensemble and Ani Dance Ensemble, St. Movses Khorenatsi Pre-School, Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choir, members of “Shushanik” Union and many volunteers prepared the Armenian harisa dish.

Among those attending the festival were the Head of the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender Office, Bella Osipova; the Tbilisi City Council representative Margarita Khidirbegashvili; Women's Union of Georgia representative Ketevan Gabruashvili; Lili Safarova from the Kurdish community.

The hall was very crowded. Armenian women in appropriate attire stood beside the pots with harisa. President of “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia, Susanna Khachatryan, expressed her appreciation to the participants of the event for the celebration of Great Barekendan by Harisa Festival, staying true to the tradition that has become cherished throughout the years.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, touching upon 48-day Great Lent before Easter, spoke about the importance to forgive each other, to compromise and be reinforced with Christian love on Great Barekendan. The Primate highly appreciated the participation of the women and Armenian structures in Harisa Festival and wished the audience to prepare for celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, by deriving their body strength from Great Barekendan and fortifying their faith.

The Diocesan Primate blessed the pots with harisa and, following the Lord’s Prayer, invited the guests to taste the traditional harisa. More than a thousand people were served, blessed harisa was delivered to the ill and needy, who could not attend the celebration.

The event included joyful songs and music. Harisa and refreshments were served. Harisa - flavored atmosphere, inspired by Great Barekendan feast, was very cheerful.

The “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia expresses gratitude to the Headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Diocesan Hayartun Center, the godfather of the Saint Etchmiadzin Church, Karen Sagsyan, the Saint Movses Khorentasi Pre-School, community officials Zhanna Davtyan and Alexander Utmazyan, all the benefactors and contributors for supporting the festival.