From Apr. 20 to 21, Head of the Division for Relations with the Armenian Communities of the Caucasus of the Department of Armenian Communities of the CIS at the RA Ministry of Diaspora Taron Shagoyan paid a working visit to Tbilisi to participate in the placement and consecration of cross-stones in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Damala village of Aspindza region (Apr. 22) and Ninotsminda (Apr. 23).

On Apr. 21, a cross-stone in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was consecrated during a solemn ceremony held in the yard of Holy Etchmiadzin Armenian Church in Tbilisi. The cross-stone was created by Varazdat Hambardzumyan and was placed by the Georgian-Armenian Diocese under the sponsorship of St. Petersburg-based Hrachya Poghosyan and is similar to one of the thousands of cross-stones eliminated by Azerbaijani soldiers in New Julfa.

The event continued at Courtyard Marriott in Tbilisi where Yerevan’s “Zangakner” Ensemble led by artistic director Shahen Keshishian gave a classical music concert held at the initiative and with the support of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

On Apr. 22, a cross-stone in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was placed by Vicar of the General Prelacy of Javakhk, Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan during a solemn opening ceremony held with the participation of Armenian priests in the Armenian Damala village of Javakhk.

Among the attendees were guests from Armenia, Russia and different Armenian-populated areas of Georgia. Armenians of generations of Genocide survivors recited the poems of Sevak and Charents and performed the songs of Komitas.

On Apr. 23, a Requiem Mass in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was performed by leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan at the Saint Sargis Armenian Church in Ninotsminda. The ceremony was held with the participation of Vicar of the General Prelacy of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka, Father, Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan and clergymen.

After the church ritual, the people moved toward the square of the culture home where Javakheti-Armenian sculptor Aram Gharslyan’s monument dedicated to the 99^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was placed.

Among those attending the opening and consecration of the monument were Armenian deputies of the Parliament of Georgia, Primate of the Georgian Diocese of the Georgian Holy Orthodox Church of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda, Mitropolit Nikoloz, heads of the regional department and the sacrebulo, leaders of Georgian-Armenian community organizations, as well as guests from Yerevan, Tbilisi and different areas and villages of Javakhk.