On June 1, 2017 the International Day for Protection of Children was celebrated in many countries of the world. June 1 was made a real festivity for Armenian children residing in the capital city and other regions of Georgia. With the blessings and with the support of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, several events were organized for children in the Diocesan churches, setting the festive mood. The day was full of surprises.

The festive events kicked off in the courtyard of the Saint Etchmiadznin Church in Tbilisi, bringing the students of the Diocesan Saint Movses Khorenatsi Preschool together. Joyful music, songs and dances for children set everyone in a great mood. Children participated in games and contests, organized by the entertainers, Genrikh Petrosyan and Mari Pogosova, dressed in national costumes. School-age children were involved in the contest of children’s paintings, organized by Tamara Sulkhanishvili, and in different fun activities, such as drawing on faces suggested by the preschool teachers Eugenia Markosyan, Oksana Sharoyan and Metaksia Ghazaryan. Marina Sumakhyan dressed like Mickey Mouse surprised the children and released balloons as a gesture of peace.
The elementary school students of the 103 and 104 Public Schools ruled the roost in the courtyard of the Cathedral of Saint George. Following the Lord’s Prayer in the church, the children received the blessings of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. Later, Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan invited the children to paint a peace symbol on asphalt surface.
Here the entertainer Aram Harutyunyan dressed as a Spiderman was waiting for the children. The children sang and danced, participated in several games and contests, accompanied by the applause and joyful exclamations. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, who was in attendance, selected two winners of the contest – Julietta Snkhchyan and Armine Atoyan, the 103 School students, for original solutions for their illustrations. They received encouraging gifts.
On behalf of the Diocesan Headquarters, officials and the godfather of the church, children also received pastry, ice cream and Children’s Bible as surprise gifts.
The day was festive in the Alexander Mantashev Center in Batumi (the Armenian Diocese in Georgia). Joyful songs, dances, many games, surprises and gifts, organized through the combined efforts of the Center’s Director Sona Hovhannisyan and teachers, granted happy and unforgettable moments to the children. With the blessings of Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, in the courtyard of the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki, a splendid event dedicated to International Children’s Defense Day was held under the motto: “June 1 Without Computer”.
To bring joy to children, under the sponsorship of the Support to Javakhk Foundation, an entertainer had been invited from Yerevan. The entertainer organized many games and contests, including events held in the yard, the winners received encouraging gifts from the Prelacy Headquarters and ARAY Tomorrow chain-stores in Akhalkalaki. The children performed songs and dances during the event. Heroes from fairy tales visited the children bringing some balloons. Optional activities included face painting for kids. At the initiative of the Director of the “Apagai Tun” (“House of Future”) Center, Satenik Mahtesyan, and teacher Nanuli Unanyan, a short event was organized that featured children dressed in national costumes of representatives of different nationalities who made a call for peace. The children received ice cream at the end.
The celebration of Children’s Day in the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was held in a happy atmosphere.