May 28, 2017, was a day of celebration for the entire Armenian people. On this day the Armenian people celebrated the Second Palm Sunday, the commemoration of the triumphant entry of the Ascended Christ into the Heavenly Jerusalem, where the angels meet him with great happiness and delight, and the 99th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. Batumi started the celebration with the Divine Liturgy in the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church, which was conducted on Sunday by the Pastor of the local Armenians, Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, with the participation of the clergy, a Special Prayer Service was offered.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Alexander Mantashev Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted the celebration of the First Republic of Armenia.
Under the direction of the Head of the Center, Sona Hovhannisyan, the Children’s Art Studio, at the initiative and under the direct supervision of the teacher, Marietta Apetyan, presented a lovely concert, which brought cheer and celebration to the holiday. The children performed a literary montage. The event featured performances of Armenian patriotic and national songs, the recitation of poetry. A brief documentary about the Heroic battles of May was screened for the audience.
In attendance was Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Batumi Yeghishe Sargsyan, who congratulated the Armenians of Batumi on the occasion of holidays celebrated in May, wishing the entire Armenian people to live in a secure, prosperous and independent homeland.
In his remarks, Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan exhorted the attendees to unite and combine their efforts for the reinforcement of their homeland, to preserve national values, to educate the younger generation with the patriotic spirit, instill them with strong faith and commitment to the Armenian Church.
Let us add that two days earlier, on May 26, students of the St. Mesrop Mashtots Armenian One-Day School in Batumi participated in an open lesson entitled “The Battle of Avarayr”. Satenik Danielyan, Armenian language and literature specialist, talked in detail about the Battle of Avarayr, which was fought on May 26, 451 AD, and the heroes of the battle. The students of the Sunday school showed interest and active participation during the lesson, discussed one of the most significant events in Armenian history and answered the questions of the teacher.
The open lesson was the commemoration of the Armenian heroes through the example of the War of Vardanants.