On January 6, 2018, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the first major feast the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in the churches of the world-spread Armenians, including the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

From the early morning, the faithful and their families were rushing to the Armenian Church to take part in the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast.

Early in the morning the live broadcast was organized from Akhalkalaki, where the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan congratulated the Armenian faithful on the Feast of Nativity. Afterwards, the Diocesan Primate conducted the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Akhalkalaki’s Surb Khach (St. Cross) Church (Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia). In attendance were Georgian MP Samvel Manukyan; Chairman of Akalkalaki Municipality Assembly (Sakrebulo) Nairi Iritsyan; Mayor of Akhalkalaki Yuri Hunanyan.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia read the Message of His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news of the Nativity of Christ child and Theophany filled the church.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, under the leadership of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan the ceremony of the Jurorhnek, or the "Blessing of Water" was held. Matevos Vardanyan, a devoted son of his nation, became the "godfather of the Church Cross".

The Diocesan Primate, joining in the congratulations expressed by His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; offered his good wishes to the faithful. Taking into consideration that at midnight on January 7 the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas, the Bishop on behalf of the clergy and the Armenian faithful of Georgia congratulated the faithful and clergymen of the Georgian Church on Holy Christmas.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Headquarters of the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a reception.

As per tradition on this feast day, the clerks of the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki visited the dilapidated Tsaghkavank Church and plunged into a pond formed by a stream of water coming out of the ruins of the church.

Everyone at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi was in a great and festive mood. The church was crowded with faithful.

The occasion was honored with the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan; and diplomats of the Embassy.

Members of the Parliament of Georgia David Chichinadze and Ruslan Poghosyan; the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili; Zaza Vashakmadze, the Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues; representatives of the Public Defender Office, Bella Osipova and Koba Chopliani; members of the United National Movement, Zaal Udumashvili, Khatia Dekanoizde, Zaza Bibilashvili; Givi Shahnazari, Georgian Youth Delegate to the United Nations, Giorgi Tumasyan; Van Bayburtyan and others came to congratulate the Armenian Diocese in Georgia on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Divine Liturgy was attended by the community officials, intellectuals, worthy sons and daughters of the Georgian-Armenian community.

The Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ was properly celebrated at the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church in Batumi. RA Consul General in Batumi, Yegishe Sargsyan; and Mayor of Batumi Lasha Komakhidze attended the Divine Liturgy and congratulated the Armenian faithful on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The live broadcast of the Divine Liturgy was organized by Ajara TV.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili have congratulated the Armenian people living in Georgia on Christmas and the Epiphany.

The attendees taking blessed water returned home in a festive mood.

It is noteworthy that for the first time ever the live broadcast of the Divine Liturgy at the Surb Khach(Holy Cross) Church and the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi was organized by the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

Georgian mass media covered the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.