From September 25 to 28, the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival organized by the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia was held. The festival had gathered choirs and soloists from Armenia, Artsakh and 12 other countries.

The Cultural Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, with the blessings and good wishes from His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; was represented by the three choirs that are under the auspices of the Diocese, namely the Makar Yekmalyan Choir of the Cathedral of Saint George, led by choirmaster Svetlana Tatoeva (piano: Karen Mirzoyan); the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choir of the Hayartun Center, led by choirmaster Maria Aboulyan; and the Aghbyur Youth Vocal Ensemble of the Alexander Mantashev Center in Batumi, led by choirmaster Ruzanna Hovhannisyan.

The participation of the choirs in the festival was coordinated by Director of the Cultural Department, Levon Chidilyan and Rev. Father Ararat Gumbalyan.

The Aghbyur Youth Vocal Ensemble of the Alexander Mantashev Center in Batumi, had the honor to perform at the opening ceremony of the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival.

The three choirs of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia skillfully performed the songs of Komitas in Vanadzor, Gyumri and Yerevan, and everywhere got warm reception from the audience.

Those days during the We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival were fun and interesting. The members of the choirs laid a wreath near the tomb of the great musician, visited Komitas Museum-Institute, paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims in Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, they toured the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and visited the Sergey Parajanov Museum.

On September 28 Aram Khachaturian Grand Concert Hall hosted the closing ceremony of the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival. The Makar Yekmalyan Choir and the Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choir of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia performed at the closing gala concert.

In his closing remarks, RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan attached importance to the role of the festivals in bringing the Armenians around the world closer to the Motherland, the preservation of the Armenian identity, development of national culture. The choirs enjoyed the festival together and created unforgettable experience. RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan granted certificates of participation to the choirmasters.

The concert closed with Arno Babajanyan’s “My Glorious Nation” song jointly performed by the choirs.

At the conclusion of the festival, the Armenian choirs of Georgia made a pilgrimage to the Sevanavank monastic complex.