“Holy Easter”: Coming Together to Celebrate the Holiday ([entanik.am][1]) [1]: https://entanik.am/hy/core-cms/page/view/surb-zatik-zatkakan-msakuyt-hamerg-mijocarum?utm_source=chatgpt.com "«Սուրբ Զատիկ՝ զատկական մշակույթ» համերգ-միջոցառում"

On April 20, the students of Gyumri’s “Yntaniq” Children and Youth Creative Center, led by Director Arthur Minasyan, embarked on a two-day trip to Javakhk. The purpose of the visit was to embrace the spiritual meaning of the greatest Christian holiday, Holy Easter, together with the Armenian community of Georgia, with whom they share unbreakable bonds of friendship.

The friendship between the people of Shirak and the Armenians of Georgia has deep and fruitful roots. They are united by countless hearts and connected by pulsating veins of love, from which purity and goodness are born and nurtured, so that they may worship the greatest love—Christ, who took upon Himself all the sins of humanity, separating us ordinary mortals from corruption, falsehood, and destructive deceit.

“Yntaniq” was a long-awaited guest for the Armenians of Georgia. The visit of the Children and Youth Center carried a meaningful mission: to acquaint its students more closely with the ethnic and cultural values and traditions of Javakhk and to cultivate in them purity of spirit, kindness, honesty, and the ability to love and support others.

The visit was particularly important for its educational and cultural significance. The students attended the Easter Divine Liturgy, met with Father Tatev Marukyan, pastor of the Holy Cross Church in Akhalkalaki, and participated in a discussion entitled “The Mystery of the Resurrection.”

The meeting was enriched by a concert organized through joint efforts, held in the festively decorated courtyard of the aforementioned church in Akhalkalaki. Students of the “Yntaniq” Center and Akhalkalaki’s artistic groups performed energetic dances and soulful songs.

Thanks to the tireless work of the Center’s Artistic Director Murad Torosyan, the folk dance group delighted the audience with beautiful performances, including “Shalakho,” “Ververi,” “Shepherds,” “Kintos’ Dance,” and other diverse dances. These performances were accompanied by the Center’s ethnographic songs under the direction of Artistic Director Karen Atoyan.

The celebration was further enlivened by an abundance of colorful Easter eggs. After the concert, the students of the Center attended the evening service at the Holy Cross Church in Akhalkalaki.

The eventful first day was followed by the second day of the journey. With deep reverence, the students attended the morning Divine Liturgy dedicated to the memory of the departed at the Holy Cross Church in the Armenian-populated city. They then met with His Grace Father Babken Vardapet Salbiyan, General Patriarchal Vicar of Javakhk under the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

At noon, the students of the Center’s theater group, under the direction of M. Torosyan, performed the play “The Resurrection of Jesus.” The performance was followed by a discussion with the young people of the youth center on the topic of “Spiritual and Cultural Traditions and Customs.”

The visit concluded with an interesting walking tour, during which the students became acquainted with Akhalkalaki’s historical and cultural heritage. Enriched with new knowledge and strengthened friendships, they returned to their accommodation.

The visit carried a profound message, reflecting the awareness of “One Nation, One Culture.” Although customs and traditions may have different nuances due to geographical and territorial circumstances, the Armenian national spirit remains unbreakable—like our majestic mountains, hospitable like our charming valleys, energetic like our crystal-clear streams, honest and loving like the apricot-colored setting sun, and devout and dignified like the Armenian Christian.

The visit fulfilled its purpose and had significant educational, spiritual, cultural, and character-building value.

S. Avetisyan