On June 22, 2015, a consultative clergy meeting of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was held in the rectory of the Saint Grigor Lusavorich Church (Saint Gregory the Illuminator).

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan presided at the conference together with the head of the Samtskhe-Javakheti’s Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Archimandrite Ter Babgen Salbiyan.

The meeting began with the Lord’s Prayer and blessings from the Primate. The agenda consisted of three main issues:

    Semi-annual report on the activities of the clergy

    Reconstruction work on the Saint Grigor Lusavorich Church (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) and related matters

    New appointments

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese briefed the clergy on activities undertaken in the past six months by the Diocese and presented their future plans. Then the Fathers according to the hierarchy, reported on progress regarding restoration work. The speakers highlighted the ongoing construction work of the Alexander Mantashev Educational, Cultural and Youth Center in Batumi, the completion of the restoration of the Surb Astvatsatsin Church (Holy Mother of God) of the XI century (in the Dadesh village), the Saint Sioni Church of the XIX century (in the Vachian village) and the Surb Khach (Saint Cross) of the XIX century (in the Sulda village). It was noted that the reconstruction of the Saint Stepanos Church of the XIX (Mets Aragyal village, Ninotsminda region) and the Saint Karapet Church of the XIX century (Gandza) are nearing completion.

The Fathers also reported on the participation of the congregation in religious events, the augmentation of the number of those who receive Communion, on-site visits, and the organization of local religious and cultural events.

The clergy representatives of Javakheti spoke about the commemorative events held in various local Armenian schools and cultural centers within the framework of the marking of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Archimandrite Ter Babgen Salbiyanprovided detailed the visit of professionals from Tbilisi regarding the reconstruction work of the Saint Grigor Lusavorich Church ( Saint Gregory the Illuminator) . He informed the audience in detail that architect Zurab Gachechiladze had examined the building and suggested that an in-depth landscape analysis be conducted in order to prepare for future projects on foundation reinforcement and construction work on the exterior of the Church.

The participants raised the issue of clergy shortage on-sites and asked the Primate to take measures to resolve this problem.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese, within the scope of his competence, relieved Hieromonk Ter Hakob Sahakyan from the position of Parish Priest of Akhaltsikhe region (Mets Pamach, Pokr Pamach, Oral, Ghulalis and Sazel villages) and appointed him as Parish Priest of Marneuli and nearby Armenian communities. Senior Rev. Fr. Ter Yeghishe Harutyunyan was relieved from the position of Parish Priest of the Saint Grigor Lusavorich Church in Akhaltsikhe and appointed as Assistant Priest of the Surb Khach Church in Akhalkalaki .

Rev. Fr. Ter Ghevond Topshyan was appointed as a Parish Priest of Akhaltsikhe and nearby communities of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.

His Grace praised personal efforts of the head of Samtskhe-Javakheti’s Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan for the establishment and developmentof of  current friendly relations between the Armenian and Georgian peoples.

At the end of the meeting the Primate of the Armenian Diocese blessed the participants and , praised the works undertaken by the clergy, encouraging them to be more devoted to their activities in preparation for their future mission.