On the 30^th of June, in the yard of Tbilisi Surb Etchmiadzin Church of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia a festival and contest of national dish “Dolma - 2013” was held. The Association of Armenian Women in Georgia “Shushanik”, with the support of the “Hayartun” Center and the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, initiated the event. 15 varieties of dolma, cooked by Armenian women, were laid on the tables. The purpose of the event was to spread traditional Armenian cuisine among the people.

After the blessing of the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holly Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Chairman of the Union of Armenian Women in Georgia Susanna Khachaturyan declared the festival open. Cheerful Armenian songs and music sounded nearby, and numerous guests who came to the festival, among whom were both Armenians and Georgians, Russians, Yezidis, Germans, Jews, Americans, the locals and from different countries, having tried Armenian dolma, expressed an appreciation for the national dish.

While beautiful music and songs sounded and people tasted Armenian dolma, the reputable jury headed by Margarita Kirakosyan, the Head of Financial Affairs of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holly Church in Georgia, evaluated the varieties of dolma to determine the winner. Dolma was evaluated according to the taste, beautiful appearance and richness of fantasy. All the contestants received the certificates of participation in the festival, while the first, second and third prize winners - Hripsime Andreasyan, Alina Alikhanova and Inessa Sarukhanyan received souvenirs.

It should be noted that the year 2013 started in the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holly Church in Georgia with Gatah Festival at Christmas celebration, and the half-year was marked with the festival and contest of the national dolma. Georgian mass media largely covered the festival and contest “Dolma-2013”.