The Feast of the Holy Translators is one of the most favorite and beloved national-ecclesiastical feasts of the Armenian people. It is a movable feast and the Armenian Diocese in Georgia celebrates it with Divine Liturgies traditionally held by the clergy.

On October 14, 2017, a Divine Liturgy was offered at the Vemkar (the rock at the bottom of the Altar) and the Icon, blessed by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, at the St. Gregory of Narek Educational, Cultural, Youth and Spiritual Center, which was opened only a few months ago in Rustavi.

The Divine Liturgy was attended by the faithful of Rustavi and nearby regions, who were joined by a group of pilgrims from Tbilisi, led by Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan, Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint George.

On the occasion of Holy Translators’ day Father Samvel conducted Divine Liturgy at the St. Gregory of Narek Center. The Makar Yekmalyan Choir from Tbilisi, led by choirmaster Svetlana Tatoeva (piano: Karen Mirzoyan), performed Armenian sharakans during the liturgy.

During the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant in his sermon transmitted to the people present the blessings and good wishes of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. Later, believers listened to the sermon on the meaning of the day, read by the officiating priest, who valued the power of the Word of God in the believer’s life. Father Samvel urged to spread the Armenian alphabet, created by the Holy Translators, in Armenia and Diaspora, to preserve our precious language, as one of the guarantees of national identity preservation.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful led by the priest, visited the Khojivank pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures in Tbilisi and laid flowers near the tombs of great Armenians. Under the presidency of Father Samvel and with the participation of the clergy a service for the repose of the souls of the Armenian Greats was conducted, asking the Holy Translators for their intercession.

Armenian Church celebrates Holy Translators’ Day twice a year. Among famous translators are hundreds of disciples to Saint Mesrop Mashtots and Saint Sahak Partev.