On November 23, Prelate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan consecrated the Holy Trinity Church of Alatuman village and the Cross-Stone placed in the churchyard in the presence of Vicar of the General Prelacy of Javakheti, Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan; spiritual pastor of Aragova and the nearby villages, Priest Tadevos Ter-Mkrtchyan, as well as Priests Tatev Marukyan and Tigran Mkhitaryan. The consecration of the church was immediately followed by a Divine and eternal Liturgy served by Priest Tadevos Ter-Mkrtchyan.

The Prelate of the Diocese conveyed the blessings and good wishes of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians to the people of Javakheti, particularly the residents of Alatuman village. RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan had also conveyed his greetings to the gathered.

In his speech, Prelate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan mentioned: “Today there are people who are truly seeking God and come to pray to Him in front of God’s temple. In this exotic corner there are people who earn a living through hard work and are very closely linked to the church.”

The Holy Trinity Church and the territory were renovated with a donation from Russia-based Alik Makaryan, who was born in Javakheti. A Cross-Stone in memory of Alik Makaryan’s father was placed in the churchyard.

The Vicar of the General Prelacy of Javakheti highly appreciated the benefactor’s work and transmitted a written blessing and the Bible.

“The residents of Alatuman had been waiting for this day for nearly a century. They had dreamed of seeing the renovated Holy Trinity Church, hearing the church bells, lighting candles and praying at the church. Alik Makaryan turned that dream into a reality,” Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan mentioned.
There had never been so many people in Alatuman village…One could see tears of joy in people’s eyes. After a century of silence, the bells of the church rang to bring the tiding that Armenians in Javakheti are experiencing a spiritual rebirth.

Among the attendees of the holy ceremony were Armenian Deputy of the Parliament of Georgia Samvel Petrosyan, Deputy Governor of the region Harutyun Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Regional Council of Akhalkalak Hamlet Movsisyan, President of the Board Eduard Aghasaryan, as well as guests and pilgrims from Armenia, Russia and different parts of Georgia. The consecration of the Holy Trinity Church was followed by the traditional blessing of the sacrificed lamb.

On the occasion, Mavr Mkrtchyan and friends gave a concert for the gathered in front of the church. The concert included spectacular dances by Karin Song and Dance Ensemble led by Gagik Ginosyan and the members of the children’s and youth ethnographic ensemble of Baralet village.

Alatuman village is located 20 km north from Akhalkalak. It is 1,760-1,790 meters above sea level and is scattered across the sloped mountains. The Akhalkalak-Tabatsghur Highway splits the village in two parts.

Armenians have been settling and resettling here since the 18^th century, starting from the Gaghtaritch village of the Karno state of the homonymous colony. The parish school of the village has been adjunct to the church. The Holy Trinity Church was built in the 1830s. It is made of stone and has a wooden roof. The church building was destroyed during an earthquake that took place on December 19, 1899, but it is standing today. The stone-built church has only one entrance at the west front and a belfry at the dome. In addition to the western front and windows that are made from sacred stones, the rest of the parts are made from stones that have not been refined.

Press divan of the Vicariate of the General Prelacy of Javakheti