From May 4 to 11, 2017, a group of Armenian faithful of the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church in Batumi (Armenian Diocese in Georgia) spent unforgettable and the happiest days of their lives. 18 Armenians of Batumi, upon receiving the blessings of His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; led by Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of the Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior) in Batumi and of Armenian community in Adjara, Guria and Imereti; traveled to Jerusalem. The pilgrimage lasted for 7 days. Their big dream to visit Jerusalem came true.

The pilgrims from Batumi were welcomed and accompanied throughout the trip by Very Rev. Father Theodoros Zakaryan, who earned appreciation and great respect from the Armenian faithful of Batumi.

For Armenians, a pilgrimage to the Promised Land is imbued with sacred meaning: children of the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, the nation which has the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, dream of visiting one of Hierarchical Sees of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. This pilgrimage of Armenians of Batumi to Jerusalem, particularly to the Armenian shrines, became a link in a gold chain of Armenian pilgrimage. Among the sites the group visited were Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Quarter, Sts. James Cathedral, holy sites on the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, the Church of the Annunciation, Tel-Aviv, St. Nicolas Monastery.

The pilgrims had the honor to attend Sunday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the “Khokum” (meditation) service; spending the whole night in prayer in the church.

Of course, all spiritual servants dream to jointly pray and celebrate a Divine Liturgy at the holy sites of the Promised Land. With zealous dedication, Rev. Father Ararat celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Church of the Tomb of the Blessed Virgin, pilgrims attended the service and took Holy Communion.

At the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Jerusalem Patriarch Archbishop Nurhan Manougian received the pilgrims from Batumi, accompanied by the Rev. Father. The leader of the group transmitted the greetings and good wishes of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia to the Patriarch, the attendees received the blessings of the Patriarch.

The pilgrims returned to Tbilisi spiritually reborn, filled with rich impressions and joyful bliss, hoping to come back again.

The Armenians of Batumi express their deep gratitude to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan; the Director of the Administrative Department of the Diocese, Karen Yeritsyan; Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of the Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior) in Batumi; for their assistance.