Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrated at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats), the last of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church, which is movable, was celebrated on September 13, 2020.

On the occasion of the Feast, Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi and Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari.

The celebrant at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi was Vicar of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan.

The holy feast of the Armenian Church was honored with the presence of Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia on Regional Development Affairs Sozar Subari, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia Kakhi Gamgebeli of Isani Region of Tbilisi Kakha Labuchidze, Editor of ''Vrastan'' (''Georgia'') newsletter Van Bayburdyan, Adviser to the Diocesan Vicar Armen Gevorgyan, representatives of Armenian community in Tbilisi, intellectuals, leaders of organizations, numerous faithful.

During the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant preached about the mystery of the day, told the faithful about the return of the Holy Cross of God from captivity, its elevation in Golgotha and that is why the feast called Khachverats, or Srbkhetch. He commented on the significance and the power of the Cross, encouraged the faithful to remain unshakable in their faith, to appreciate and maintain national and church values and to convey them to the generations, as well as to keep steadfast their relations with the House of God.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the church yard.

On the same day, at the conclusion of Evening Service, on the occasion of the feast dedicated to the glorification of Cross, the procession of Holy Cross took place in churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and basil, the symbol of the feast was blessed and divided into the faithful .

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was solemnly celebrated with Divine Liturgies in Armenian churches in different settlements and villages: Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Akhaltsikhe, Batumi in Samtskhe-Javakheti region; Marneuli, Tetritsgharo, in Kvemo-Kartli region, Tsalka region, as well as in spiritual center in Rustavi.