On September 17, 2017, the last one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church coincided for Armenians of Batumi with the traditional preparation of harisa.

Here, harisa has been prepared on the third Sunday of September for the past four years now and is dedicated to the Musaler heroic battle.

The day before, the clergy, the Center’s teachers and the faithful had been preparing tasty harisa throughout the night with a special love, pleasure, and offering prayers to God at the Alexander Mantashev Educational Cultural Youth Center in Batumi of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

The following day, Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan, Pastor of Armenians in Ajara, Guria, Imereti, and the Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior); celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior), following which he blessed the pots with harisa and the dish was served. In attendance were Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Batumi Yeghishe Sargsyan; the parish council members, community officials and guests.

The festival was accompanied by the joyful performances of the Alexander Mantashev Center’s creative groups and solo performers, which added festivity to the event. The celebration continued throughout the day.

102 years ago the population of seven Armenian villages of the Musa Dagh region, aware of the impending danger, refused the deportation, ordered by the Ottoman Empire, and fell back upon Musa mountain, thwarting assaults for fifty-three days. There was nothing to eat except wheat and lamb. The men mixed wheat, water and the meat of sacrificed lamb, until it became like porridge. Harissa is known for helping the Armenians of Musa Ler to survive during the resistance.