On April 24, 2015 all the Armenian communities, including the Armenian community in Georgia marked the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

A large number of people gathered in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi to participate in the Divine Liturgy.

Among the visitors were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of RA to Georgia, Mr. Yuri Vardanyan and his wife, the Embassy Stuff, the leader of the Evangelical Lutheran church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Hans-Joachim Kiderlen, the leader of the Evangelical Baptist church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Merab Gaprindashvili, Armenian public figures, fellow intellectuals, Armenians from Tbilisi and regions.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy Father Ter Narek Ghushchyan in his sermon recalled the Canonization ceremony for the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. He thanked those countries and international organizations that helped and provided shelter and support to Armenians who survived and also thanked sister churches for sharing our nation’s grief. Father Ter Narek Ghushchyan expressed his appreciation to the Armenian community in Georgia that came to pay tribute and pray for the Genocide victims despite the rain.

After the Divine Liturgy people laid flowers to the cross-stone in the church courtyard dedicated to the memory of the Genocide victims; the clergy performed Armenian Sharakan chants.

Following the ceremony, people headed to the Embassy of Turkey holding Armenian and Georgian flags and posters and singing patriotic songs. Numerous representatives of the Armenian community, Armenian NGO’s and Georgian representatives of political and public organizations, even few Georgian politicians were calling on Turkey and Georgia to recognize the crime in Armenian, Russian, Georgian, English, Turkish and Yazidi languages.

On April 24 similar protests and commemorative events were held in other regions of Georgia inhabited by Armenians.

This peaceful protest was covered by local newspapers, television and radio. The Armenian Diocese of Georgia thanks the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for ensuring security during the events held on April 23 and 24.