Commemorative evening dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

On April 24, 2023, on the initiative and sponsorship of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, a commemorative evening dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place at the Vaso Abashidze State New Theatre in Tbilisi.

The event was honored with the presence of George Volski, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia; Zaza Vashakhmadze, Chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Nikoloz Pachuashvili, Metropolitan of Javakheti, Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kari of Georgian Orthodox Church; Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt, Ambassador of Vatican to Georgia and the Republic of Armenia; representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps, sister Churches and representatives of the Armenian community.

In his welcoming speech addressed to the attendees, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan touched upon the crime committed against the Armenian people 108 years ago, the genocide committed against one and a half million Armenians. Mr. Ambassador highlighted the importance of the rejection of hatred and confrontation, and continuation to live and maintain the memory, so that there are no more intentions of crimes anywhere, so that such atrocities do not happen again.

Lasha Bakradze, director of the Leonidze State Museum of Literature in Tbilisi, emphasized in his speech the supreme goal of being human: not to forget the past, to keep the memory, reject hatred and create the future. And painter Iren Ohanjanova, on behalf of her grandfather, presented the story of her family that survived the genocide and took refuge in Georgia, attaching importance to the supreme commandment of remaining a human being.

The program of the day was also harmonized with artistic performances, creating an atmosphere of memory, faith, and hope. Singer (soprano) Hasmik Baghdasaryan, and pianists Anahit Stelmashova and Arsen Karapetyan beautified the evening with their beautiful, emotional, and masterful performances.

At the conclusion of the evening, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan, Metropolitan of Javakheti, Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kari of Georgian Orthodox Church, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt, Ambassador of Vatican to Georgia and the Republic of Armenia prayed to ask Almighty God for the intercession of the Holy Martyrs of the faith and homeland.