February 19th marked the birthday of Poet of All Armenians Hovhannes Tumanyan. On February 19, 2018, like every year, the Armenians of Tbilisi paid tribute to the great poet by visiting the Khojivank Pantheon where the tombs of Armenian writers and public figures are located. Intellectuals, writers, cultural and public figures, guests from Armenia laid flowers in front of the tombstone of Hovhannes Tumanyan and the tombs of Armenian writers and public figures.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan presided over a Requiem Service near the tomb of the great poet.

After the ceremony, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan addressed the gathered and praised the attendees for keeping the memory of great Armenians alive and passing it on to future generations. The Diocesan Primate touched upon the tradition established by the late poet and translator Anahit Bostanjyan to donate books on the birthday of Hovhannes Tumanyan. Staying true to tradition, Anahit Bostanjyan’s daughters, Gayane and Marina, donated books from the poet’s personal library, as well as her recently published collection. Journalist Gohar Mazmanyan donated an old album including the biographies and photos of graduates of the Nersisyan Armenian School to the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center.

The events continued at the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, there was also a surprise for the attendees. After decades, the solemn opening ceremony of the local puppet theater was held with a puppet show based on Hovhannes Tumanyan’s work “The Dog and the Cat”; it was dedicated to the Armenian writer’s birthday.

Guests from Yerevan, representatives of Georgian authorities, the diplomats of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia, Tbilisi-Armenian intellectuals, leaders and members of community organizations took their seats in the hospitable hall of the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan”.

The students of the “Saint Movses Khorenatsi” Primary School of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia took their seats on the plump cushions donated by the family of Alexander Utmazyan, a parish council member, waiting for a puppet show based on Hovhannes Tumanyan’s work “The Dog and the Cat”.

The splendid front curtain of the newly created puppet theater was opened as a most wonderful present for Hovhannes Tumanyan’s birthday, at his house.

The crew of Tbilisi’s Petros Adamian State Armenian Drama Theater , including actors Ashot Simonyan, Aren Mkrtchyan, Edita Zohrabyan, and the founder Armen Hovhannisyan performed a puppet show based on Hovhannes Tumanyan’s work “The Dog and the Cat”. It left an indelible impression.

The speakers, Director of the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre named after Hovhannes Tumanyan, RA Merited Art Figure Ruben Babayan; Deputy Director of the House-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan Ani Yeghiazaryan; Head of Erebouni Administrative District of Yerevan Davit Grigoryan; diplomat of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia, Harutyun Hayrapetyan; Artistic Director of Petros Adamian Tbilisi State Armenian Drama Theater Armen Baianduryan; Editor of Georgia newspaper Van Baiburtyan; noted that the establishment of the puppet theater in Tbilisi will convey something new to cultural life of the Armenians, it is a new step towards Armenian upbringing of Armenian children, highly appreciated Armen Hovhnannisyan’s work, offering their support and cooperation.

The puppet theatre will soon become favorite place for Armenian, Georgian and other children, where they will meet puppets - the heroes of the legends, ballads, fairy tales of Hovhannes Tumanyan and other children’s writers. This is a wonderful initiative ahead of the 150th anniversary of Hovhannes Tumanyan, a great apologist for the strengthening of friendship between Georgians and Armenians, who spent his fruitful years in Georgia, and Georgian civil society will welcome the initiative, - stressed in their remarks representative of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, Alexander Grigalashvili; Co-Chair of the Union of Writers of Georgia Maghvala Gonashvili; Chairperson of the District Council of Isani District of Tbilisi Kakha Labuchidze.

Armen Hovhannisyan expressed his gratitude to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Hi Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan for supporting his proposal, and noted that his big dream of creating a doll theater turned into a reality. The talented artist expressed his gratitude to crew of Tbilisi’s Petros Adamian State Armenian Drama Theater, the State Central Children Theatre named after Nodar Dumbadze, the Gary Davtyan Culture House for their assistance provided to the establishment of the puppet theater, and promised the attendees that the puppet theatre would soon become favorite place for children performing different puppet shows.

In his closing remarks, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia conveyed his blessings. The Bishop stressed the importance of paying attention to the development of culture, he highlighted the impact of cultural values on children’s education. The “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center adjunct to the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, which is the Center for literature, arts and friendship between nations; from now on will also accept children, regardless of their nationality. The performances of the puppet theater will contribute to familiarizing children with art, teaching them to love theater and culture, will teach them how to love and be kind. The Bishop extended his words of appreciation to the founder of the theater Armen Hovhannisyan, the Center’s director Gisane Hovsepyan, the participants of the establishment of the puppet theater and all of the organizers.

The puppet theater will regularly present puppet shows.