Glad Tidings of Holy Nativity Across Churches of Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On the evening of January 5, 2026, on the occasion of the first major feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Before the start of the Divine Liturgy, an Evening Service was held in the churches, during which selected passages from the Bible were read.

At Saint Etchmoadzin church in Avlabari, the Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The celebrant was Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Diocesan Primate, in his sermon addressed the mystery of the Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ as a gift bestowed upon humanity, a true divine way to deliverance from sin, the overcoming of many challenges, and the restoration of unity within the Armenian Church.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Kirokos Davtyan lit the Life-Giving Candle, which also symbolizes the light of the Star of Bethlehem and guides people toward true divine blessing. The light of the Life-Giving Candle was then shared with the faithful, who carried the glad tidings of the Holy Nativity and the divine light with them in their lit candles as they left the church.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a procession of clergy, led by the Diocesan Primate, performed the Home-Blessing Service at the Primate’s “Hayartun” residence.

Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi, Saint Savior (Surb Prkich) church in Batumi, Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich) church in Akhaltsikhe, Holy Cross (Surb Khach) church in Akhalkalaki, Saint Sarkis church in Ninotsminda, and other regional Armenian churches.