Harisa Festival on Feast of Exaltation of Holy Cross

On September 14, 2025, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the last of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. In the Armenian  Diocese in Georgia, it has become a cherished tradition to mark church feast days with national cultural festivals. With the blessing and support of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and with the initiative of the “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia, the Feast of the Holy Cross was celebrated with the traditional Musa Dagh Harisa Festival.

Pots of buttery harisa, prepared by the faithful women and members of the “Homenetmen Tiflis” NGO, were displayed on tables in the Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the Diocesan “Hayartun” Center.

The event was honored with the presence of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and Rev. Father Ruben Archimandrite Zargaryan, member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Director of the Department of Ecclesiastical Conceptual Affairs of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In his words of blessing, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in  Georgia congratulated the attendees on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, known among the people as S’bkhech, and highlighted the tradition of commemorating the heroic struggle of Musa Dagh with harisa. The celebrant bestowed his blessing upon the members of the “Shushanik” Union, the groups of faithful women, the cross-bearers of the two churches, Arkadi Hovakimyan and Karen Darbinyan, as well as Eduard Muradyan, director of the “Armenia” store, and all participants for their support and steadfast dedication to the Church, and invited Rev. Father Ruben Archimadrite Zargaryan to bless the tables adorned with harisa.

The tasting and serving of harisa then began, accompanied by lively songs and music performed by the duduk ensemble of the “Hayartun” Center, led by Ivane Mkrtchyan, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere.