On the 30^th of August, 2013, the joint meeting of the clergy and the officials of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia took place in Georgian suburban settlement Tserovani. The meeting started with the prayer and blessing from the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan and after the adoption of the agenda the chairmanship was transferred to Vicar-General of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan.

The spiritual shepherds of Tbilisi, Batumi, Samtskhe –Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli, and all employees of the Vicariate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Samtskhe-Javakheti attended the meeting.

The mission of spiritual shepherds of the Armenian communities in Tbilisi, Batumi, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli is to conduct pastoral work in given communities, to monitor the construction works in the restored churches, organize a variety of activities to bring people close to the church, and to unite the youth around the House of God.

In all congregations of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia they must unconditionally adhere to the established order of religious rites. Sacraments, church rituals and ceremonies must be performed identically by the canons of mother Church. In his pastoral work spiritual father must be a spiritual and national enlightener of the local population, as well as use the media to spread the evangelical precepts.

His Grace underlined and found it necessary to revive the spiritual, religious, educational and cultural activities at the Vicariates of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka and gave appropriate instructions to the regional clergy and the officials of the Vicariate. The Bishop expressed His satisfaction with the works conducted by Vardapet Babken and expressed willingness to help by all possible means of the residence of the Diocese in various projects, which are carried out in the region by the Holy Father.

The Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia appreciated the activities of the clergy and encouraged to continue the great mission of God’s service.

The Head of the Diocese presented the structure modifications made in the Diocesan administration, told in detail about each department, created under the new system of management. These are the department of legal affairs, the relationship with the state and inter-religious cooperation, as well as the cultural, educational, youth, media, administrative and economic, financial departments.

The heads of the departments delivered a speech at the meeting. Levon Isakhanyan, Head of Legal Affairs, the Relationship with the State, Inter-religious Cooperation, told to write 48 operating churches, the residence of the Diocese and the "Hayartun" Center in the balance sheet of the Diocese, he also spoke of the Armenian population census. Michael Avakian, the Head of the Social Service of the same department, speaking on a visit to the Armenian prison inmates together with the Priest Husik Harutyunyan also proposed to include in the list of visits the prisoners from regional communities, as well as to organize charitable health check in Tbilisi and other Armenian-populated regions.

The department of culture, under the guidance of the Head and Coordinator of the “Hayartun” Center Levon Chidilyan, has carried out 50 events in the past six months. Levon Chidilyan mentioned that the department had taken part in various festivals both in Armenia and Georgia. There are dance ensembles, choirs, vocal instrumental ensemble, classes of duduk and dhol, group chess lessons and a football team functioning at the center. The responsible for the department informed that on the financial resources from RA Ministries of Culture and Diaspora, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Board of Trustees cultural activities in the Diocese continue. He offered to continue spiritual and cultural activities in the regions, and to help in the establishment of local cultural groups and art centers.

The Head of the Educational Department, Eugenia Markosyan, spoke about the productivity of ongoing educational and cultural activities in the regions and one-day schools in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kobuleti, she suggested to engage the teachers from the regions in the refresher courses and to support the patriotic work of kindergartens opening. She also talked about the expansion of the "Hayartun" Center kindergarten activities and on co-operation with Tbilisi public schools. The headmistress also raised the issue of learning the history of the Armenian people as an optional subject at Armenian schools operating in Georgia. She also announced the receipt of appropriate amount of literature from RA Ministry of Education for the kindergarten and Sunday schools students.

The Head of the Youth Department, the spiritual supervisor Deacon Gevorg Antonyan stressed the importance of young people being close to the church for their good upbringing. Through meetings, personal contacts, discussions and pilgrimages the consolidation of the youth around the church must be achieved. Deacon Gevorg in his turn highly appreciated the collaboration with RA Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and assumed the responsibility for the care and maintenance of the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank”.

Speaking about the activities of the press and the media, the head of the department Susanna Khachaturyan called it the mirror of Diocesan activities, through which the whole work becomes apparent. On the Web page of the Diocese, where the content is presented in four languages, news, church meetings, biographies of the clergy, the history of the historical and operating churches are available; the preparation of radio and television programs is developed.

On the assumption of modifications included in the Diocesan administration structure, Head of the Financial Affairs of the Diocese of Margarita Kirakosyan presented in detail cash inflows and outflows in accordance with the departments, while adding the work on targeted projects and reports on them.

And the Head of the Administrative and Economic Department, Karen Yeritsyan, presented the Cathedral of Surb Gevorg restoration process, and also construction works at Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Shahumyan village, reporting that the works at Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Small Daghet had been completed and on the 8^th of September the consecration of the church would be conducted.

The responsible for the departments of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia answered the questions of the clergy.

The leaders of the creative unions, collaborating with the Diocese: President of the “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia Zhora Snkhchyan, Acting Chairman of the Union of Armenian Intellectuals of Georgia Yenok Tadevosyan, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Painters of Georgia Meruzhan Shahumyan, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Women in Georgia “Shushanik” Susanna Khachaturyan, Chairman of the Armenian Musician's Union of Georgia Artem Kirakozov - attended the meeting. The headmistress of Gary Davtyan Puppet and Culture House Jhana Davtyan for a valid reason was absent during the meeting.

The leaders of the creative unions in their speech appreciated the support of the church in the work of the creative unions, stressed the importance of joint activities with the homonymous Georgian organizations and individuals. It was proposed to continue the activities in the regions, where together with the spiritual work the practical activities would be carried out.

The Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan summed up the joint meeting of the clergy and the officials and based on the region gave appropriate instructions to the clergy.

The meeting ended with a joint prayer.