On November 3, 2017, the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was crowded. People in attendance were a diverse group. It was nice to see that the audience was made up mostly of young people, mainly Armenians and Georgians. The young artists of the two nations presented their dynamic and expressive paintings in the Center’s hall and on the house’s beautiful balcony, and created a Tbilisi mosaic in line with the exhibition.

The event was jointly organized by the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the Georgian Writers Creative Union. It was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of beloved Georgian poet Nikoloz Baratashvili.

The occasion was honored with the presence of diplomats from the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia, Artur Sargsyan, Artak Grabsky, Elina Mkrtchyan. In attendance also were Armenian and Georgian writers, poets, artists, intellectuals and public figures.

Director of the “Home of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center Gisane Hovsepyan gave opening remarks. Noting that the priority activity direction of the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center is the development of friendly relations between Armenians and Georgians, she mentioned that the purpose of the event was to pay homage to the Georgian poet through literature and paintings with the spirit of Tbilisi, by combining the works of young Armenian and Georgian artists.

Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan, Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint George of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, greeted the attendees, transmitted the blessings and good wishes of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan; he emphasized the importance of mutual love and respect between nations according to established traditions, which should be passed down to the younger generation, become for them a life-long companion.

The president of the Georgian “Gold Fund” foundation, renowned writer and translator Makvala Gonashvili spoke about inherent to Tbilisi friendly relations between people, where has been no national or religious discrimination, making mockery of traditions. Georgian children, when growing up, fell in love with little Gikor, Armenian youth got inspired with the independent flight of “Merani”. Nikoloz Baratashvili, Hovhnannes Tumanyan and others were one of those who supported these ideas, Makvala Gonashvili noted in her remarks.

Former Georgian Minister of Culture, Guram Odisharia; newly elected President of the Union of Writers of Georgia,  writer Baghater Arabuli, editor-in-chief of “Tsiskari” magazine; poet and translator Givi Shakhnazari; miniature painter Meruzhan Shahumyan; the editor of “Vrastan” (Georgia) newspaper Van Bayburtyan; and others highly appreciated the festive event, and the friendship between the Armenian and Georgian peoples. However they criticized Georgia’s mass media for not showing an interest in coverage of similar events. The speakers unanimously stressed the need to modernize Armenian-Georgian cultural and literary ties, sign memorandums, and jointly organize events and meetings on regular basis.

Young artist Ivane Kezua presented Givi Shakhnazari with a gift – his painting, a portrait of the poet and translator. And based in Greece Georgian artist Elguja Maghularia was awarded the diploma “Culture Ambassador”.

Young poets Ketevan Nateladze, Monika Kurkchyan and Nika Kvrivishvili greeted the attendees and recited their poems.

The event symbolized a real comeback to the spirit of Armenian-Georgian friendship inherent to Tumanyan’s house, and evenings full of love and warmth.