On March 17, 2017, within the frames of his one-day official visit to Akhalkalaki, the U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Ian Kelly visited the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki (Armenian Diocese in Georgia). Ambassador Kelly lit candles and raised a prayer together with the clergy in the Armenian Church.

Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, welcomed the Ambassador and introduced the history of the Armenian Church, presented the Prelacy’s activities aimed at uniting the local residents around the Church, transmitting Christian values to the next generation, the development of culture and charity.

U.S. Ambassador, the administration and the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church held the meeting behind closed doors and discussed issues facing the local population. Ambassador Ian Kelly also met with Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda and Akhaltsikhe NGO representatives.

Primary source: http://jnews.ge

Agunik Ayvazyan