On July 2, 2017, Rev. Father Tatev Harutyunyan, Pastor of the Saint Andrew Armenian Church in San Jose, of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Saint Gevorg Cathedral on Sunday. In attendance for the service were the Armenian faithful of Tbilisi, as well as almost thirty pilgrims from the Unites States of America, led by the Pastor.

During the Divine Liturgy, Pastor of the Saint Gevorg Cathedral, Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan introduced the celebrant, who has strong bonds with Georgia, particularly Tbilisi and this ancient Cathedral.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant, Father Tatev made a reference to his birthplace Tbilisi, shared the reminiscence of his childhood and adolescence, his former 74 Armenian school. Rev. Father Tatev mentioned that his father – Rev. Father Tatev Harutyunyan of blessed memory had been serving at the Saint Gevorg Cathedral of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia from 1971 to 1983.

The celebrant, Father Tatev stated with gratitude that exactly twenty years ago he had been ordained as a secular priest by Archbishop Gevork Seraydarian, former Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and since then he had made a vow to celebrate a Divine Liturgy at the Saint Gevorg Cathedral in Tbilisi.

Father Tatev extended his deep appreciation to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, for his fatherly blessings and permission to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in this church.

The celebrant concluded his sermon and exhorted the Armenian faithful to stay committed to the Christian faith.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a reception was organized for the American guests at the Saint Gevorg Cathedral.

The pilgrims from the United States, led by Rev. Fater Tatev and Director of the Hayartun Center, Levon Chidilyan, visited the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank” and the Hayartun Center. The pilgrims toured with interest the halls of the Center, learned about the activities aimed at preserving the Armenian identity. The Taron Dance Group of the Hayartun Center performed for the guests a traditional Armenian dance “Kochari”.

After lighting candles and saying their prayers together with Rev. Father Manyk Zeynalyan, the religious servant of the Saint Etchmiadzin Church, the pilgrims from San Jose continued their pilgrimage and headed to Russia, particularly Moscow.