On April 23 in Surb Sargis Church of Ninotsminda the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, through the offices of the Vicar-General of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan and the clergy conducted a requiem service for the Armenian Genocide victims. After the church-office the procession headed to central square of Ninotsminda, near Palace of Culture. Here a monument dedicated to the 99^th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was erected. The monument designed by a local sculptor, Aram Gharslyan, was donated by noble sons of the Armenian nation Armen Gharslyan, Martun Mkoyan, Tatul Gharslyan, Enzel Mkoyan.

Georgian MPs of Armenian origin, Metropolitan of Georgian Orthodox Church in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda Fr. Nikoloz, Sacrebulo officials and regional authority, leaders of community-based Armenian organizations in Georgia, guests from Yerevan, Tbilisi, different regions and villages of Javakheti attended the opening ceremony and sanctification of the monument.

After Gevorg Snkhchyan’s opening speech, who had organized the event and is the Head of the Cultural Department in the region and responsible for the local Rafael (Javakh) Gharslyan Center, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian and residing in Russia sponsor Armen Gharslyan unveiled the monument. The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Vicar-General of Javakhk Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan and the clergy solemnly conducted the sanctification.

Everyone, who delivered a speech, condemned genocide as a crime against humanity, demanded and called on the civilized world to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Students of Ninotsminda School of Music and Cultural Center (choirmaster Irina Gharslyan) performed songs during the event. The event ended with “Tsitsernakaberd” song, lyrics were composed by poet Gevorg Snkhchyan. Along with prayers the attendees placed flowers at the memorial pedestal.