"HAYARTUN" EDUCATION, CULTURE AND YOUTH CENTER IN TBILISI

In 2011, at the initiative of His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and under the auspices of the headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, with the support of Russian businessman Boris Saakov and Georgian-Armenian businessmen Rafik Aghajanyan, Samvel Aghekyan, Aram Simonyan, Nelson Petrosyan, Kim Safarov, Aram Sanosyan, Vitaly Manasyan, Samvel Manukyan, and Arkadiy Manukyan, an Armenian art house was constructed adjacent St. Etchmiadzin church in Tbilisi, the ceremonial opening of which was held on June 12 of the same year, during the visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians to Georgia on a pontifical visit. Bringing his Patriarchal blessing, the Catholicos of All Armenians congratulated the Armenian community on the occasion of the opening of the center, wished it to become a new Armenian cultural, national, and spiritual hearth, maintaining the good traditions of the historical Tumanyan "Hayartun" Center.

The "Hayartun" cultural center, established in 2010 at the Cathedral of St. Gevorg, the headquarters of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, from the very first days of its establishment, carried out patriotic activities and fruitful work, undertaking the maintenance of the native language, celebrating historical and church feasts, revitalizing national customs and traditions, fostering stronger Armenian-Georgian cultural ties.

"Hayartun" center is a complete and reputable institution, where the employees unite their efforts under the leadership of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. Their collective mission is to bring noble national ideas to fruition. The Armenian art house also sees its mission in uniting various Armenian associations under its roof. Unions united under the auspices of the "Hayartun" Center and the Armenian Diocese in Georgia organize exhibitions, book presentations, discussions, meetings, and evenings dedicated to notable anniversaries, as well as festivals, festive celebrations, and events that draw crowds to the Center's Galust Gulbenkian hall every weekend, welcoming both Armenian and foreign audiences.

The head of the "Hayartun" Center is Eugenia Markosyan, Director of the Education Department of the Diocese.

"Hayartun" actively collaborates with and provides support to Armenian creative unions operating in Georgia. They are:

“Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia,

"Kamurj" (Bridge) non-governmental organization of Armenian-Georgian literary relations,

Union of Armenian Intellectuals of Georgia,

Union of Armenian Artists of Georgia,

"Gari Davtyan" Puppet Culture House,

"Shushanik" Union of Armenian Women in Georgia,

"Armenian Community of Georgia" non-governmental organization,

Council of Armenian non-governmental organizations of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli,

"Shen" non-governmental organization,

"Raphael Javakh" Education and Cultural Center in Ninotsminda,

"Alexander Mantashyants" Education, Cultural and Youth Center in Batumi,

Georgian Writers Association,

Georgian Artists Union,

Georgian Musicians Union,

"Caucasian House" Intercultural Relations Center,

Tolerance Centre of the Public Defender's Office of Georgia,

Tolerance and Diversity Institute.

"Hayartun" Education, Cultural and Youth Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia carries out its activities in line with its mission. Rightfully gifted people gather in the Center, with the ultimate goal of learning the native language, mastering it, getting to know Armenian art, and dedicating themselves to its development. To facilitate this goal, the Center operates various groups, with admission overseen by a competent committee. After joining the creative group, knowledge of Armenian is mandatory. Those who do not know it take a two-year Armenian language course at the "Hayartun" Center.

Creative groups

The operation of groups established since the Center's foundation serves the purpose of enriching the cultural sphere:

"Nerses the Gracious" (Nerses Shnorhali) children's choir,

"Taron" ethnographic song-dance youth ensemble,

Duduk class,

"Hayos Band" vocal-instrumental pop ensemble,

Group of solo singers of "Hayartun" Center.

"Saint Moses of Khoren" (Surb Movses Khorenatsi) Preschool (two groups with 60 students), "Saint Gregory of Narek" (Surb Grigor Narekatsi) Saturday school (four groups with 105 students) and "Saint Elijah the Prophet" Sunday school (four groups with 95 students) operate at "Hayartun" Center under the jurisdiction of the Education Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

On Sundays, a lecture on the history of the Armenian people is organized at the "Hayartun" Center, followed by the screening of films related to the history of the Armenian people and the Armenian Church, and then the ethnographic song and dance class for young people begins.