Candlelight Divine Liturgy Celebrated at Saint Etchmiadzin Church of Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On the evening of Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025, Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the occasion of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ at churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

The Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari, Tbilisi, and its courtyard were filled with people. They came with their families, eager to be among the first to hear the joyous news of the Resurrection of the Savior of mankind. The Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Following the service offered on the eve of the feast, the Divine Liturgy proclaimed the joyous news of the Savior’s miraculous Resurrection. The faithful warmly congratulated one another on the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.

In his sermon, the celebrant, Diocesan Primate, spoke about the challenges of daily life—marked by injustice, ongoing wars, and the growing horror of death and destruction. Yet, the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ inspires faith and hope: that justice will prevail, that good will triumph—just as it did through the Resurrection of Christ and the ultimate defeat of evil.

His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan extended his congratulations to the faithful on the occasion of the Holy Resurrection, offering prayers for peace in Georgia and Armenia, freedom for prisoners of war, the safe return of evacuees to their homes, and continued progress and development for both nations.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful lit their candles from the lantern’s flame and returned home, carrying with them the blessing and the holy light of Our Savior’s Resurrection. Afterward, the first Home Blessing Service after the Feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was offered. Bread, water, and salt were blessed at the Diocesan headquarters in Avlabari.

The faithful continued to visit the church until midnight.