11 Syrian-Armenian refugee women led by the External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Anahit Hayrapetyan; participated in Tbilisi in the exhibition-sale of handmade items presented by refugee women from different countries entitled “From refugee women with love”.

On December 7, 2017, the Hayartun Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted Syrian-Armenian women led by Maka Chichua, Head of Refugee Women Support Association in Georgia.

The Guests were welcomed by the Hayartun Center’s staff. Susanna Khachatryan, Chairman of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia “Shushanik”; greeted the attendees and briefly underlined the activities carried out by the aforementioned organization, which consolidates the Armenian women of Georgia and unites them around the Church.

Director of the Cultural Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Director of the Hayartun Center, Levon Chidilyan; presented the Hayartun Center, which is operating under the auspices of the Diocese, touched upon the history of its creation and activity directions, spoke about the creative groups, as well as the exhibitions, including the latest one – exhibition of paintings by young painters of Artsakh.

Director Chidilyan spoke about those meetings, presentations, events dedicated to various holidays, hosting high-level officials from Armenia and Georgia, which are a big part of the Center’s daily life.

The guests accompanied by Eugenia Markosyan, Director of the Educational Department of the Diocese; toured the Hayartun Center, saw the “Saint Movses Khorenatsi” Preschool and expressed their admiration for the children receiving an Armenian education and upbringing, were informed that special attention is being paid to learning Armenian, Armenian history and Armenian Church history.

The Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choir of the Hayartun Center, led by choirmaster Maria Aboulyan (Piano – Karen Mirzoyan) presented a performance to the audience. The students of the dhol and duduk classes and their tutors Ivane Mkrtchyan and Robert Kashavanidze presented the colors that are characteristic of old Tbilisi and Armenians. The Syrian-Armenian women were captivated by the Taron Dance Group’s performance of national dances (Choreographer - Suren Abrahamyan).

The Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choir members and the people present joined the singer Lena Hakobyan, the choirmaster of the Shoghakat Choir of the Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church in Yerevan, as she performed “Yerevan” song, making the event more touching.

The External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Anahit Hayrapetyan; made a proposal to cooperate not only with the Refugee Women Support Association in Georgia, but with the Association of Armenian Women “Shushanik” and the Hayartun Center. Different organizations established by Syrian-Armenian women who settled in Armenia will certainly participate in the cooperation.

Maka Chichua, Head of Refugee Women Support Association in Georgia; and Georgian colleagues expressed their gratitude for warm hospitality.

The Syrian-Armenian women, accompanied by Deacon Gevorg Antonyan, lit candles in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church and performed “Holy, Holy!” . The Armenian women from Yerevan, led by Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department; visited the Khojivank pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures in Tbilisi, paying tribute to the Armenian Greats.