The 154th anniversary of Hovhannnes Tumanyan was celebrated in Tbilisi

On February 19, Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the feast of Great Barekendan (Bun Barekendan). A Divine Liturgy was celebrated with closed curtains of the Holy Altar. the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan, congratulating the participants on the Feast and encouraged them to be spiritually prepared to take the path of Great Lent starting from the next day so that we can celebrate the Feast of the Holy Resurrection with prayer and a pure soul.

February 19 is also the birthday of the great Armenian Poet Hovhannes Tumanyan. It is celebrated every year in Tbilisi with various events. The celebration of the 154th anniversary of the Great Poet from Lori began in the poet’s apartment in Tbilisi, where he lived and created, becoming a symbol of friendship between the Armenian and Georgian peoples, the founder of the bridge connecting the literature of the two countries.

The guest of the day was the delegation of the Charles Aznavour Cultural Center of Yerevan State University, headed by director Karine Davtyan. In attendance were the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan,  numerous guests from Yerevan and Tbilisi.

Speaking about the role and recognition of Tumanyan in world literature, Ambassador Smbatyan emphasized the importance of making both Tumanyan's literature, as well as Armenian literature and culture accessible to the local society through translations and publications during diplomatic activities in different countries of the world.

On her grandfather's birthday, Tumanyan’s granddaughter Alyona Kolesnikova gifted the family album to the house, which has become a center. Hovhannes Tumanyan's letters addressed to his daughter Seda and the ballad "Poghos Petros" were kept in that album.

In their speeches, Karine Davtyan, director of the Charles Aznavour Cultural Center, and Karen Grigoryan, director of the publishing house of the Yerevan State University, expressed appreciation for the activities of the scientific, educational and cultural center, suggesting various ways of cooperation.

In Tumanyan's former study, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan and  Rector of Yerevan State University Hovhannes Hovhannisyan. Due to the latter’s absence, the Karine Davtyan, director of the Charles Aznavour Cultural Center represented him. The guests handed over Armenian books to the representatives of the two organizations.

The festive day concluded with traditional tea drinking at the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center.

The events in Tbilisi continued at the Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public Figures “Khojivank” where the great poet rests. After the Response of Souls Service, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia, who also did not come empty-handed, brought Tumanyan's works published in Armenian and German in Germany. Tumanyan’s day was beautified by children's recitation.

Those present laid flowers on Tumanyan's tomb, and the day ended with the tradition of gifting each other books initiated by the late Levon Anananyan and rooted among Armenians from Georgia by the late poetess Anahit Bostanjyan, which is continued by her daughter, Gayane Bostanjyan end Marine Bostanjyan, head of the "Kamurj" (Bridge) literary NGO.

The events dedicated to Tumanyan's anniversary continued in the Diocesan "Hayartun" Center, Charles Aznavour Cultural Center of Yerevan State University hosted in the “Hayartun” Center. A joint concert was performed here by the artistic groups of the two centers. It ended with the joint performance of the song "Hayrenik" (Homeland) by the choirs of the Charles Aznavour Cultural Center and “Hayartun” Center. The festive day was concluded by the Pastor of Armenian churches in Kvemo-Kartli region Rev. Father Archimandrite Zaven Yazichyan who offered his blessings to the attendees. The latter conveyed the blessing of the Diocesan Primate, and congratulated the attendees on the occasion of the Great Barekendan and the anniversary of the Great Armenian Poet.

The directors of the two centers, Karine Davtyan and Eugenia Markosyan, decided to declare the song "Hayrenik" (Homeland) as the anthem of their cooperation.