“Son, Where Is the Euphrates?” Film Screening at Diocesan “Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House” Center

On June 20, 2025, with the blessing of Diocesan Primate His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, the “Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a screening of Ruben Pashinyan’s feature film “Son, Where Is the Euphrates?”. Dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, the screening was attended by Ruben Pashinyan himself—the film’s screenwriter, director, and lead actor. The central message of the film is clear: though the survivors of the Armenian Genocide were spread across the world, they continued to live with love and longing for their homeland.

The film’s creator spoke about the inspiration behind writing the script and the challenges faced during filming. He also paid heartfelt tribute to the late Rita Sargsyan, former First Lady of the Republic of Armenia, whose support and encouragement made the film possible. Ruben Pashinyan expressed his gratitude to His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, for his support in presenting the film to the Armenian audience in Tbilisi. He also acknowledged the goodwill shown by the leaders of various dioceses around the world who made the screenings of the film possible in their communities.

Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan, superintendent of the “Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House” Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; Gohar Mazmanyan, tour guide; Van Bayburtyan, editor of “Vrastan” (Georgia) newsletter; and other speakers reflected in their remarks on the depictions of the Armenian massacres in the film and the references to the victims of the Genocide. They emphasized the film’s powerful evocation of love for the homeland, longing, and hope, and highlighted the idea expressed by the main character, who is in search of the Euphrates River, that when two Armenians meet, they imagine themselves in Armenia. Perhaps what remains unclear for the film’s protagonist is why Armenians today still follow the path of emigration, leaving their homeland to settle in foreign lands in search of a safer life and to escape the difficulties at home. He also receives no answer to the question: What is the Armenian doing to improve the difficult situation in the homeland? What is he doing to help his country flourish? The film is deeply moving and filled with patriotic emotion.