On September 14, 2015, the newly-appointed spiritual shepherd of the Marneuli region, Archimandrite Ter Khoren Hovhannisyan paid his first visit to the Marneuli region’s Armenian communities, accompanied by the Rev. Fr. Ter Manuk Zeinalyan from Tbilisi Saint Etchmiadzin Church and Hovsep Chirakhov. His visit coincided with the beginning of the new academic year in Georgia. Father visited № 1 Public school in the Shahumyan settlement (Director – Artyush Urumyan) and the public school in the Akhkiorpi village (Director – Violeta Sukiasyan) and conveyed the blessings and best wishes and a gift (The Children’s Bible) from the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan to the students, parents and teachers.

The guests read a prayer in the Surb Astvatsatsin Church (Holy Mother of God) in Shahumyan. In the old chapel of the Akhkiorpi village, Archimandrite Ter Khoren conducted his first Divine Liturgy together with the choir from Tbilisi. During the Liturgy Father Khoren read a sermon on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats). At the end of the Divine Liturgy Father Khoren also delivered a commemorative service.

The meeting with the local congregation took place in the administrative building of Akhkiorpi. The villagers were very glad to meet the Father. They raised various questions regarding the immigration and keeping the young generation close to the Church.

The Karmir village became the last point of the official visit. The guests lit candles and prayed in the Srbots Avetaranchats Chapel (Holy Gospel) together with the Rev. Fr. Ter Manuk Zeinalyan and paid tribute near the cross-stone dedicated to the memory of the Genocide victims. Archimandrite Ter Khoren was informed that almost all the inhabitants of the village are the descendants of those who survived the Genocide and found shelter in Georgia. The first visit of Archimandrite Ter Khoren Hovhannisyan to the Marneuli region’s Armenian communities was very informative.