On May 15, 2018, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, accompanied by Rev. Father Tadeos Ter-Mkrtchyan, visited the Samtskhe – Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy's churches in the Akhalkalaki region, in particular, the Surb Nshan church (1905) in the village of Trkna, Surb Harutyun (Saint Resurrection) church in the village of Balkho (1830s), Saint Minas church (1905 – 1909) in the village of Zak, Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God, 1869) church in the village of Baralet as well as ancient sanctuary in the Ekhtila village.
The Diocesan Primate had meetings with local villagers, during which issues of interest to faithful were discussed. The abovementioned churches were renovated in the 1990s and early 2000s. Therefore, it is a necessary to carry out reconstruction work. Pastor Rev. Father Tadeos was instructed to organize cleanups in the churches and its courtyards, carry out partial reconstruction works with the help of the local population as far as it possible before the reconstruction and renovation works will be launched.
In the village of Ekhtila the issue of building a new church was discussed with the local people.
On May 16, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese, accompanied with Rev. Father Tigran Mkhitaryan visited the Surb Sion (Saint Zion, 1830) church in Vachiani village, Surb Khach (Holy Cross, 1830) church in Sulda village, Saint Karapet church (1894) in Kartsakh village and Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God, 1830) church in Dadesh village.
The churches Surb Sion (Saint Zion) in Vachiani, Surb Khach (Holy Cross) in Sulda and Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) in Dadesh were renovated after 2014 and now are in a better condition. The state of the Saint Karapet church was worrying - it needs the urgent repair of the roof. The Diocesan Primate ordered Pastor Rev. Father Tigran to perform fundraising for the renovation of the church.
Within the framework of the regional visit, the Diocesan Primate had meetings with pastors, Mayor of Akhalkalaki Yurik Unanyan and visited Ashugh Jivani House Museum in the village of Kartsakh.