“My Son, Where is the Euphrates?” Film Screening at Hayartun Center of Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On September 28, 2025, responding to the requests of the Armenian community in Tbilisi and with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Hayartun Center of the Diocese hosted a screening of Ruben Pashinyan’s feature film “My Son, Where is the Euphrates?”. The author himself, writer, director, actor, and journalist Ruben Pashinyan, had specially arrived from Yerevan for the event.

In his welcoming remarks, he spoke about the motivation behind creating his film on the theme of the Armenian Genocide and expressed gratitude to the Diocesan Primate for responding to the request of the Armenians in Tbilisi to have the film screened once again.

The theme of the Genocide in the film is revealed through the character of an Armenian who narrowly escaped the Genocide and was scattered across the world, forced to live far from his homeland, yet filled with longing for it. The film is deeply moving, imbued with patriotic sentiment. Through the script, the author delicately raises the dilemma of choosing between one’s homeland and fate, of leaving for emigration in search of a more prosperous life. This time, however, the motive is not survival from massacres and persecution, but rather the desire to live in comfort, though still burdened with homesickness. For the film’s protagonist, it remains incomprehensible why Armenians, in order to escape the hardships of their homeland, choose to leave it, without seeking the answer to what each Armenian can do to improve the difficult situation in the country and to contribute to the flourishing of their homeland. Yet he makes a choice of his own, though not an easy one.

The film has been screened and warmly received with interest and affection in London, Moscow, New York, and Boston, becoming both accessible and heartfelt for audiences.

During the event, the author also read excerpts from his recent books, “Мама, мне уже 59” (“Mom, I’m Already 59”) and “…На все четыре стороны!” (“…To All Four Winds!”), as well as from new, unpublished works that will be included in his upcoming collection.

Following the screening, poet and translator Marina Kirakosyan Mosesova recited her poem “Armenia.”

The event concluded with a blessing and remarks by the Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan. The evening unfolded in the format of a warm conversation between Ruben Pashinyan and his compatriots, with the exchange of thoughts and impressions.