On March 11, Mijink Day of the Great Lent, the 4^th “Armenian Gata” Festival brought the women of Javakhk together at the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Akhalkalak where they cordially baked the Armenian gatas for the Mijink. The festival was organized by the Vicariate of the General Prelacy of Javakhk and was launched after the liturgy and prayer of thanks.

Spiritual pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Akhalkalak, Father, Priest Tatev Marukyan addressed the faithful people of Javakhk: “The already traditional “Armenian Gata” Festival on Mijink Day has brought us together once again at the House of God for us to pray and taste the Armenian gata with the love of Christ. The greatest blessing is not to find a metal coin in the gata, but the chance to discover the great idea of hospitality, which is part of the Armenian culture and Christianity. This festival provides us with the opportunity to rediscover national values and customs and do that with the blessing of God,” Father, Priest Tatev Marukyan mentioned in his speech.

Afterwards, Father, Priest Tatev Marukyan and Father, Priest Tigran Mkhitaryan blessed all the gatas, after which girls dressed in Armenian costumes performed for the gathered in the churchyard. The women of Javakhk had prepared for the annual festival in a special way. Representatives of nearly 11 villages, more than 10 organizations and 55 women of Akhalkalak participated in the festival. The festival grows every year and even reaches out to the villages. The women who had presented their gatas at the festival as a contribution to the dissemination and development of Armenian culture, were given awards with the blessing of Vicar of the General Prelacy of Javakhk, Father, Archimandrite Babgen Salbiyan. For the past four years, director of the Vachyan Dance Ensemble Naslet Keyan has made his invaluable contributions to the festival. This year the ensemble once again made the festival complete with performances of songs and dances. Among those attending the festival were members of local self-government bodies, as well as teachers and cultural figures of Akhalkalak and others.

According to tradition, in the past, on Mijink Day, families who had a boy or girl engaged to someone would bake “bagharj” (bread) with oil, place a bead or coin in it and send it to the future bride or future groom. When the “bagharj” was cut, all members of the family would each get a piece. Whoever found something inside would be successful that year. The festival ended, “starting” this beautiful, “forgotten” tradition.