On April 13, 2017, led by Rev. Father Narek Ghushyan, Pastor of the Armenians of Rustavi and Marneuli region, the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, representatives of Armenian community in Rustavi visited the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, Avlabari. The guests offered prayers and lit candles in the church, took photos near the cross-stone (khachkar), erected in the church’s yard in the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

Later, they visited the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, where Susana Khachaturyan, the Director of Press and Media Department at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; and Rev. Father Narek Ghushyan gave a detailed presentation on the activities of the Cultural, Educational and Youth Center, spoke about daily work, aimed at the preservation of the national identity in Georgia.

The Armenians of Rustavi toured the Center, saw the Istanbul-Armenian photographer’s exhibition in the Calouste Gulbenkian hall, and showed interest in the activities of the primary school, Sunday Schools and the creative groups. The students of the dhol and duduk classes performed a piece by Komitas in honor of guest, demonstrating their artistry.

Representatives of Armenian community in Rustavi were inspired by what they saw and spoke about their plans. Led by the Pastor, by the example of the Hayartun Center in Tbilisi, the Alexander Mantashyants Center in Batumi, the Rafael Javakh Center in Ninotsminda, the Youth Center in Akhalkalaki and the Sunday Schools, they want to establish similar Center in Rustavi, to support a more active community life, to promote the development and preservation of the mother tongue, national culture and traditions.