The Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple ( Tiarn’ndaraj) is one of the most joyful and favorite feasts of the Armenian people, the celebration of which at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia started on February 13, at Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, with the Evening Service (Nakhatonak) on the night preceding the Feast Day, conducted by the clergy under the leadership of the Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. During the Evening Service the faithful piously listened to the sermon about the presentation of the 40 day-old Christ Child to the Temple in Jerusalem by Holy Virgin Mary, after that the ceremony of Andastan was conducted, the four sides of the world had been blessed, while the priest lit a candle from the Holy Altar, and distributed the flame to all present, symbolizing the Light of Christ.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has declared the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Blessing Day for newlyweds. Thereby those newlyweds who have been married less than one year attended the service.

To fill the national holiday with joy the Cultural Department and Department of Youth Affairs, with the support of the “Hayartun” Center (Coordinator Levon Chidilyan) and under the guidance of artistic director Pavel Oganezov, prepared a gorgeous concert program.

The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia welcomed the audience attending the event. He stressed the importance to preserve and celebrate national holidays and church feast. His Grace expressed his gratitude to the Georgian government and the Georgian people, whose friendly attitude promotes preservation of national and spiritual values among the Armenians living in Georgia. The Head of the Diocese underlined the Christian and cultural pillars of two nations, upon which their ideology is based.

After that the concert began, while lighting of the traditional fire doubled the festive mood. The host of the concert Liza Torosyan with melodious voice announced the participants, Vank Folk Dance Ensemble (choreographer Liana Kashavanidze), Taron Folk Dance Ensemble (choreographer Narine Ghushchyan), students of the class of dhol (teacher Robert Kashavanidze), singers Anna Poghosova, Ani Ghushchyan and Genrikh Petrosyan performed one after another. Special thanks were given to Spartak and Gayane Mkrtchyan, due to their financial support Taron Folk Dance Ensemble performed in Armenian national dance garments.

At the initiative of the clergy of Surb Etchmiadzin Church and with the support of the "godfather of the cross", refreshments and gifts for the newlywed couples were organized at the Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the “Hayartun” Center. The feast, accompanied by cheerful songs and dances, lasted until late evening and came to an end with colorful fireworks. The Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple (Tiarn’ndaraj) was pompously celebrated in churches of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Batumi and other churches of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.