From September 25 to 28, 2017, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia organized and sponsored the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival, gathering choirs and soloists from Armenia, Artsakh and 12 other countries.

The cultural department of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, with the blessing and patriarchal wishes of Primate, His Grace, Fr. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, was represented with three choirs that perform under the auspices of the Diocese. Among those choirs are the Makar Yekmalyan Choir of the St. George Church of Tbilisi (choirmaster Svetlana Tatoyeva and pianist Karen Mirzoyan), Saint Nerses Shnorhali Junior Choir of Hayartun Center (Maria Abulyan) and Aghbyur Choir of Alexander Mantashyants Center (choirmaster Ruzanna Ovanisyan).

The participation of the choirs of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese was facilitated by director of the cultural department Levon Chidilyan and Rev. Fr. Priest Ararat Gumbalyan.

The Aghbyur Choir of Alexander Mantashyants Center of Batumi had the honor of performing during the opening concert of the festival.

The three choirs of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese gave professional performances of Komitas’s songs in Vanadzor, Gyumri and Yerevan and were warmly received everywhere.

Each day of the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival was interesting and featured many events. The members of the choirs laid flowers at the tomb of the eternal composer, visited Komitas Museum-Institute, respected the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex, visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and the House-Museum of Sergey Parajanov.

On September 28, the Makar Yekmalyan and Saint Nerses Shnorhali Choirs of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese performed during the gala concert marking the end of the festival at Aram Khachaturian Grand Concert Hall on September 28.

Wrapping up the days of the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival, RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan appreciated the big role that such festivals play in bringing Diaspora Armenians close to the mother homeland, preserving the Armenian identity and developing national culture. The festival became an impressive and unforgettable event for the participating choirs. Deputy Minister Srapionyan granted certificates of participation to the choirmasters of the choirs.

The “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival ended with a performance of Arno Babajanyan’s “Azg Parapants” song.

For the Armenian choirs of Georgia, the days of the pan-Armenian festival ended with a pilgrimage to Sevanavank Monastery.

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