Pilgrimage of Tbilisi Armenian Faithful to Holy Sites of Armenia’s Lori Province

On March 7, 2026, having received the blessing of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, two groups of faithful from the Cathedral of  St. Gevorg in Tbilisi and Holy Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari set out on a pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Lori Province of the Republic of Armenia. The purpose of the pilgrimage was traditional: to participate in the open-air Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Surb Hovhannes Monastery in the village of Ardvi, Lori Province. This service is traditionally offered at the monastery where the relics of Catholicos Hovhan of Odzun the Philosopher (718–728) are preserved.

Beneath the arches of the monastery, the open-air Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Father Shavarsh Simonyan. The pilgrims lit candles and offered prayers in memory of the Saint.

The day of the Armenian pilgrims from Georgia was rich in content and filled with visits to sacred sites. Under the guidance of Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan, the priest of Holy Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari, Tbilisi, the faithful also visited the Sanahin Monastery, toured the Haghpat Monastic Complex, and with heartfelt devotion lit candles and offered prayers at the Surb Astvatsatsin church in Odzun.

Spiritually renewed and strengthened through prayer, the Armenian pilgrims from Tbilisi returned home.