COMMEMORATION DAY HONORING THE NOVELIST RAFFI

On April 25, 2024, together with the "House of Hovhannes Tumanyan" Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and "Armenian Community of Georgia" non-governmental organization, an event dedicated to the memory of the great Armenian novelist Raffi was held for the first time with the blessing of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan. Before the start of the event, a Response of Souls service was offered by the priest of St Etchmiadzin church Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan, in the Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank” in Tbilisi. Afterward, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of "Armenian Community of Georgia" organization (chairman: Artur Mirzoyan), well-known community figures, diocesan officials, teachers, parents, and students placed flowers on the white marble tombstone of great Raffi.

The event continued at the "House of Hovhannes Tumanyan" Center for Science and Culture with Raffi's famous words as motto: “PATRIOTISM IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PHENOMENON TO WHICH ONE SHOULD SACRIFICE EVERYTHING…”

During the event, the young members of the "Armenian Community of Georgia" organization presented Raffi's biography, interesting facts from the novelist's life, as well as Hovhannes Tumanyan's obituary at Raffi's grave. Journalist and GIPA master's student Milena Barseghyan made a report called “PATRIOTISM IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PHENOMENON TO WHICH ONE SHOULD SACRIFICE EVERYTHING…” Interesting stories about Raffi's family, his wife Anna Hormuz, sons Aram and Arshak, as well as the exhibition of Raffi's personal belongings, which are being kept in the Museum of Literature and Art named after Y.Charents, were noteworthy.

The artistic part of the event was performed by the students of the "Van" choir of the "Armenian Community of Georgia" organization (director: Nina Karapetyan).