On Feast of Holy Translators: Samples from Armenian and Georgian Literary Translations Presented

On October 11, 2025, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Translators, which is also a day dedicated to honoring translators and the art of translation, both in the ecclesiastical sphere and in the fields of literature and science.

At the “Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, and with the presence of RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, an event dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Translators was held. The purpose of the event was to highlight the literary ties between the two Christian nations by presenting selected samples of Armenian and Georgian mutual literary translations, reflecting the shared traditions and achievements in the field of translation.

After the blessing offered by His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, the opening speech was delivered by Gohar Mazmanyan, the Center’s tour guide, who spoke about the significance of translation in general, the first Armenian translation of the Holy Bible, and the translators who have been canonized among the Saints.

Asya Darbinyan, Armenologist and lecturer at Yerevan State University, spoke about her translations of literary works of various genres from both Georgian into Armenian and vice versa. In particular, she discussed the works of the renowned Georgian prose writer Tamta Melashvili, who was present at the event. Among Melashvili’s works introduced to Armenian readers are the short story “Aseluk” and the novella “Mosh, Mosh, Moshahav” (translated as “Blackbird”), which won the “Saba” Literary Prize in 2011 and was later adapted into a feature film script.

The Georgian writer gratefully and warmly recalled her recent visit to Yerevan, which, in addition to providing new creative inspiration, further expanded her circle of literary acquaintances and gave rise to new ideas aimed at bringing the two brotherly nations even closer. The Armenian translator also mentioned the Georgian and Armenian translations of works by Eka Kevanishvili and Aram Pachyan, which have been received with great interest by readers on both sides.

Translator Asya Darbinyan and writer Tamta Melashvili read excerpts from the original Georgian texts and their Armenian translations.

Poet Marina Mosesova Kirakosyan, Ruzanna Hovsepyan, Levan Tsalughelashvili, and Mikhail Ananov also read samples from their own translations.

Tamta Melashvili presented the “Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House” Center with copies of her literary works.