Eve of Great Lent or Great Barekendan is celebrated on different days every year. According to the calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the days prior to weekly fasts, as well as Great Lent, are called Barekendan.

This national celebration, Great Barekendan, commemorates the human bliss, which Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden of Eden. According to the calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church, this year the Armenian Boun Barekendan holiday will be celebrated with a Harissa festival, a one-week diocesan event, from February 4 to 11, and such events are also scheduled to be held in all Armenian-populated regions.

On February 5, the festival was held in the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

The nearby territory of the Church in the Kartsakh village of the Akhalkalaki region was crowded with believers. Despite the cold weather, the day was festive and the sun was shining brightly. Following the blessings of Rev. Father Tigran Mkhitaryan, Pastor of Diliska and nearby communities; the church services were conducted at the St. Hovhannes Karapet Church.

After the Divine Liturgy, Father Tigran spoke about the mystery of the day, touched upon the harissa tradition, congratulated on the Harissa festival, noted that it is dedicated to Eve of Great Lent (Great Barekendan) and expressed hope that the festival will be ongoing. Father Tigran invited everyone to the church courtyard.

Rev. Father blessed the pots with harissa cooked by the women of the village and everyone was treated to harissa. The festival was accompanied by traditional songs and dances, everyone was in a great mood.

On February 7, with the blessings of His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; the Eve of Great Lent was celebrated with a celebratory event in the Sulda village of Akhalkalaki.

At the local Holy Cross Church, Rev. Father Tigran Mkhitaryan, Pastor of Diliska and nearby villages; and Rev. Father Tatev Marukyan, Pastor of Akhalkalaki and nearby villages; conducted the church services, following which the faithful headed towards the church courtyard to attend the Harissa festival dedicated to the Eve of Great Lent.

This community also hosted the Harissa festival for the first time. Father Tigran spoke about the mystery of the day, emphasized the importance of getting prepared for the period of fasting lasting 48 days.

Rev. Fathers blessed the pots with harissa and said the Lord’s prayer; everyone was treated to Harissa. Guests were treated to harissa by women dressed in traditional Armenian aprons. The program included song and dance performances by the ethnographic ensemble of the Vachian village. The celebration continued till late. The Harissa festival in the villages of the region continues.

On February 8, it is scheduled to be held in Dadesh, on February 9 - in Vachiani and Gumburgo villages.

On February 11, the Eve of Great Lent will be celebrated with the Harissa festival at the Hayartun Center in Tbilisi, at the St.Gregory of Narek Center in Rustavi, at the Alexander Mantashev Center in Batumi, at the St.Gregory the Illuminator Church in Akhaltsikhe, at the Holy Cross Church in Akhalkalaki, and the Rafael Javakh Center in Ninotsminda.