To mark Mid Lent (Minchink), a Gata Festival* took place in the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church in Akhalkalak.

This is the second year that such a festival has been organized by the Armenian Church in Javakhk.

 Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, Vicar General of the Javakhk region of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia, lead the assembled in the Lord’s Prayer and then spoke about the significance of the Lenten Season.

Some 50 gatas baked by Armenian women of Javakhk were on display at the festival.

(*An Armenian pastry, similar to a coffee cake. There are many variations of gata and typically specific towns or regions will have their own version. It can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes and may be decorated or left unadorned.)