Commemorative events dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide started in Akhalkalaki with Torchlight procession. Traditionally it was organized by the “Zori Zoryan” Youth Center of Akhalkalaki.
On April 23, 2018, the locals of different age, including elders and youth, came out on the streets, carrying lighting torches. The march started from the area near to the Fortress of Akhalkalaki. The Torchlight procession was led by Rev. Father Eghishe Harutyunyan, Senior Priest in Surb Khach Church (Holy Cross) of the Samtskhe – Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy in Akhalkalaki. The Procession began with the Lord’s Prayer. Illuminating the way with torches and chanting “Recognition”, the marchers walked from the Fortress and reached the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church. Here the Intercessional Rite was held, dedicated to the memory of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. At the conclusion of the Intercessional Rite, it was announced that after the declaring victims of the Armenian Genocide are martyrs, the Commemoration Day is no longer a mourning day, so on April 24, in the Armenian Churches, instead of the Requiem Service the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
On April 24, on Commemoration Day of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian residents of Akhalkalaki took part in the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Rev. Father Eghishe Harutyunyan in Surb Khach church. The ceremony was honored with the presence of Georgian MP Henzel Mkoyan; Chairman of Akhalkalaki Municipality Assembly (Sakrebulo) Nairi Iritsyan; Mayor of Akhalkalaki Yurik Unanyan; other officials, heads of NGOs and public figures.  
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful, led by spiritual fathers gathered in the courtyard of the church, near the cross-stone dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The Intercessional Rite, dedicated to the commemoration of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was held.
At the end of the ceremony, Rev. Father Tatev Marukyan, Pastor of the Surb Khach church in Akhalkalaki, offered a sermon reflecting on the mystery of the day, during which conveyed the call of the Armenian clergy and faithful to the Georgian authorities to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.
Thousands of visitors not only attended the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the church, but also watched the exhibition organized in the courtyard. The continual flow of people to the church did not stop during the whole day. Representatives of all governmental and non-governmental organizations of Akhalkalaki, teachers of schools and preschools came together with students to bow their heads and laid flowers at the cross-stone dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.
The day was remarkable because Lyudvig Tumasyan, who lives in Russia, donated to the Surb Khach church the icon of Holy Martyrs.
The Divine Liturgies dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were offered in Saint Gevorg church in Arakova and Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church in Khando. The commemorative events were held with participation of local schoolchildren.