On May 25, 2017, Christian Churches celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord on the fortieth day following the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ. This day also commemorates the return of the Catholicosate of All Armenians from Sis to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441.

The feast was celebrated with Divine Liturgies and pilgrimages in the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
In the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, Rev. Father Virap Ghazaryan, during the Divine Liturgy, offered his sermon on the sanctity of the day and noted that the feast was also designated as the Pilgrimage Day of Holy Etchmiadzin. A Pontifical Prayer was offered; the Clergy and the faithful raised their prayers to God asking for vibrancy for the Catholicosate and for the strength and good health of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and a peaceful and successful Pontificate.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, on the occasion of the feast accompanied by national traditions, the students of the Saint Movses Khorenatsi Preschool, decorated with floral head wreaths, entered the Church. Rev. Father Virap reflected on the mystery of the day, explained the meaning of national traditions and offered his blessings to the children.
Following the Divine Liturgy in the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church in Batumi, the celebration of the feast continued at the Alexander Mantashev Center. The celebrations were organized by the Aghbyur Youth Vocal Ensemble (led by teacher Ruzanna Hovhannisyan) and recitation classes (led by teacher Satenik Danielyan), under the direction of the Head of the Center, Sona Hovhannisyan. At the conclusion of the event, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Batumi Yeghishe Sargsyan and Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church, offered remarks of appreciation.
In the newly consecrated Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in the village of Gumburdo of the Akhalkalaki region, 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; Rev. Father Tatev Marukyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of the Ascension. Many residents of the village of Gumburdo gathered in the church were joined by the pilgrims and the Sunday school students from Akhalkalaki. Following the Divine Liturgy, the “Jan-Gyulum” national feast was held in the church courtyard. The ceremonies ended with a reception of lamb that had been sacrificed, owing to the donations of Khachatur Saharyan.
With the support of the Headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Armenian faithful of the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi made a pilgrimage to Akhkiorpi village in Marneuli region. Almost thirty pilgrims from Tbilisi joined the locals gathered in the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Chapel, which was built in 1861. Rev. Father Manuk Zeyanalyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The Faithful, among them many schoolchildren, received the sacrament of Penitence and Holy Communion.
In the church courtyard a national feast was held. The pilgrims and the locals participated in various national games and performed songs.  
The Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of Ascension was offered in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Akhaltsikhe, a pilgrimage was organized to the Surb Hambardzum (Holy Ascension) Chapel in the village of Katnatu. In Tsalka region a pilgrimage was organized to the Vank of Kzilkilisa , a reception of “katnapur” (a milk-based rice soup with cinnamon and sugar) was held.