On the 20th of April pupils of the “Endanik” youth creative center, headed by the center's director Artur Minasyan, organized a two – day trip to Javakhq. The aim of the visit was to associate with the sacrament of “Holly Easter”, one of the greatest Christian holidays, together with Georgian Armenians, with whom we are connected with indissoluble ties of amity.
The friendship between people from Shirak region and Georgian Armenians has deep and prolific roots; they are connected with countless hearts and pulsating and loving veins, which will nourish and give birth to purity and goodness, in order to worship the greatest love, our Jesus Christ, who took all the sins of mankind and separated us, ordinary mortals, from vicious and pernicious lies…
The “Endanik” was a wanted guest for Georgian Armenians. The center’s visit had a memorable mission. The main goal of the visit was to familiarize pupils with the ethnic – cultural values and traditions of Javakhq, it also aimed at instilling in students the feeling of kindness, honesty, the ability to purify oneself, to support others, and also the capability to love one's neighbor. The visit was very important both from the cognitive and educational point of view: the pupils participated in Easter liturgy and they met Lord Tatev Maruqyan, the pastor of “Saint Cross” /“Surb Khach”/ church in Akhalqalak, they also took part in the discussion, the topic of which was “The sacrament of Resurrection”. The meeting was ornamented by a concert organized with joint efforts of both sides, which took place at the beautifully decorated yard of “Saint Cross” church. The pupils of the “Family” center and also the pupils of the artistic groups of Akhalqalak represented their valiant dances and wonderful songs. Owing to the hard work of the center’s art manager Murad Torosyan the folk dance group shined with its beautiful dance performances of “Shalakho”, “Ververi”, “Hovivner”, “Kintoneri par” and other dances which were combined with wonderful national songs performed again by the center’s pupils /art manager Karen Atoyan/. Finally, Easter multi - colored eggs made the fete more cheerful and brighter.
After the concert the pupils attended the evening liturgy in “Saint Cross” church. The saturated first day was followed by the second one. The center’s pupils took part in the morning liturgy devoted to the “Commemoration of the deceased” in “Saint Cross” church; then they met Sacred Father Babgen Master Salbiyan, the eparchic vicar of Georgian Armenians and also the main eparchic vicar of Javakhq. In the afternoon, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ” was performed with the participation of the center’s theatrical art students /art manager M. Torosyan/, which was summarized with a discussion concerning “religious – cultural traditions and customs” with the participation of the young people from the youth center. The tour ended with an interesting walk, during which the students got acquainted with historical – cultural values of Akhalqalak. At the end of the day, gaining more knowledge and more friends the students settled at a local inn.
The purpose of the visit has a significant meaning, as it reflects the realization of the notion “One nation, one culture …” Though customs and traditions might have different characteristic features from geographical and regional perspectives; the national spirit of an Armenian is still unbreakable like our great mountains, hospitable shepherds and cold vigorous rivers, fair and affectionate like setting purple sun, god-fearing and deserving like an Armenian Christian…
The visit served its purpose and had a great cognitive, religious – cultural and educational importance.
S. Avetisyan