It was two years ago, when young artists from Armenia ArmanTorosyan and HrachyaSafaryan moved to Javakhq where they started working on recreating over 33 Armenian churches on the canvas. The paintings were first presented in Akhalkalaki, followed by an exhibit in Ninotsminda.

On June 14^th 2014, organized by the Armenian painter’s union of Georgia, Armenian Diocese of Georgia and Javakheti’s Armenian prelacy, special exhibition titled “Javakhq and its churches” was officially opened at Tbilisi’s Armenian center “Hayartun”. Armenian and Georgian painters, guests from Javakheti and different regions of Armenia were present at the opening ceremony of the exhibit at GalustGulbenkian hall of “Hayartun”.

In his opening remarks the head of the cultural department of the Armenian diocese LevonChidilyan spoke about the importance of Armenian cultural and spiritual values and praised the young painters for their contribution in presenting those values to wider public.

The president of the Armenian painters’ union of Georgia MeruzhanShahumyanalso spoke at the event. Shahumyan spoke about the importance of the event, noting that the Armenian school of painting has significant differences with Tbilisi style of painting. Other guests such as Georgian painters Giovanni Vepkhvadze and Lev Osipov, historian from Yerevan Karen Matevosyan, editor in chief of “Vrastan” weekly Van Bayburdyan also shared their impressions at the event.

The authors of the paintings, painter-sculptors ArmanTadevosyan and HrachyaSafaryan thanked the organizers for creating the opportunity to present their works for the third time. ArmanTorosyan informed the guests, that they received an invitation to present their work in Yerevan as well.

The event was concluded by the head of the Armenian diocese of Georgia bishop VazgenMirzakhanyan, who praised the dedication of the young painters in presenting the Armenian churches to wider public, meanwhile spoke about the importance of working on reconstructing currently destroyed Armenian churches of the region.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was accompanied by poetry reading from famous writers Marina Kirakozova and Gary Ghalamkarov’s works dedicated to Armenia and Javakheti highlands.

ArmanTorosyan’s and HrachyaSafaryan’s “Javakhq and its churches” exhibition will be open until June 22^nd 2014.