The Patriarcal Choir of Tbilisi Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral sang Georgian chants at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.The Patriarchy Choir of Tbilisi Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral held a concert at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and Culture Minister Tea Tsulukiani attend the concert.The concert, aired by Vatican TV, was held under an agreement signed between the President and the Pope during Zourabichvili’s official visit to the Holy See last year, the press service of the Presidential Administration has said.

Michelangelo Buonarroti's painting sold at Christie's auction for 23 million euros.Until now, it was believed that the painting was done by one of Michelangelo's students, but in 2019, Christie's experts determined that the author of the painting was Michelangelo himself.The painting was on display in galleries in Hong Kong and New York before being sold at auction.

The first semi-final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest was held Tuesday in Turin, Italy, revealing ten finalists.The 17 songs competed for the 10 tickets to the Grand Final on Saturday 14 May 2022. The ten finalists are Lithuania, Switzerland, Ukraine, Netherlands, Moldova, Portugal, Iceland, Greece, Norway, and Armenia.The semi-final 2 is slated for 12 May. 18 participants will partake, including Circus Marcus, representing Georgia at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. Georgian band will perform the song Lock Me In.

Ukraine is taking Russia’s threats to use chemical weapons against the Ukrainian people as seriously as possible. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address.“Today Russian occupiers have made a new statement confirming they are preparing for another stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the occupiers’ mouthpieces announced they could use chemical weapons against Mariupol defenders. We are taking this threat as seriously as possible”, - said Zelensky.In his words, the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed. The President of Ukraine believes that even at that time it was necessary to react to the Russian aggression in a much harder and faster manner.According to Zelensky, the European Union has started to consider the sixth package of sanctions against Russia.“It is time to make this package so that it would prevent Russia from saying a word about the weapons of mass destruction. The oil embargo against Russia is mandatory. Any new sanctions package against Russia that does not affect oil will be received in Moscow with a smile”, - added the President of Ukraine.

Actor Will Smith has left the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after punching host Chris Rock at the Oscars, Deadline reports, citing a statement from the actor.Will Smith stood up for his wife's honor at the 94th Academy Awards. The incident came after host Chris Rock joked about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett-Smith's haircut. Earlier, Pinkett-Smith spoke about the problem of hair loss and came to the ceremony with a shaved head. After these words, Will Smith went on stage and hit his colleague in the face."My actions at the 94th ceremony were shocking, painful and inexcusable... I resign my membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences," Smith said in a statement.Smith stated that he offended Rock himself, as well as "his family", everyone who attended the ceremony, and the audience around the world who watched the awards. "I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of the opportunity to celebrate and receive congratulations for their outstanding work. I am heartbroken," the actor said.He stated that he was ready to accept all the consequences of his behavior.Earlier, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Smith.

Dozens of churches, historical monuments and museums have already been damaged during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to UNESCO. What is happening in Chernihiv is especially worrying now.The UN Agency for Culture has compiled a preliminary list of cultural monuments damaged during more than a month of the war.At the moment, 29 places of worship, 16 buildings of historical significance, four museums and four monuments have been destroyed or damaged."We are very concerned about the situation with cultural and historical heritage. The heritage of humanity is in danger in Ukraine," said UNESCO representative Ernesto Ottone.On the territory of Ukraine there are seven World Heritage Sites, in particular located in Lviv and Kyiv; the cities of Odessa and Kharkiv are included in the Creative Cities Network, and some national archives of Ukraine are included in the UNESCO Memory of the World register.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) gave a positive evaluation to preservation and restoration works at the Gelati Monastery Complex carried out by the international experts under the invitation of the Georgian Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs. Culture Minister Tea Tsulukiani spoke about the details during the news briefing on Thursday. The Minister said the group, established under the aegis of UNESCO in 2021, aims to correct the misdoings and faults made during the rehabilitation works in 2008-2020. Tsulukiani added the experts agreed with the report published earlier by the UNESCO. The group of Italian experts visited Georgia in November 2021. Inappropriate restoration practices have led to conservation challenges at the Gelati Monastery, reads the 44th session report of the World Heritage Committee at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published in August 2021.   By - Elene Dobordjginidze

For the first time In Georgia Cinema lovers will be given an opportunity to watch the best Polish and Georgian films on Inflatable movie-screens. As the Ministry of Culture informs, for this purpose, a large inflatable screen is planned to be transferred to Georgia from Poland. Films will have Polish and Georgian subtitles. Audience will be provided with comfortable chairs and with the opportunity to attend the event free of charge. Films will be shown in Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi. The project is Georgia has been executed under the patronage of Poland’s Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia. Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi City Hall, the National Center of Georgia’s Film Center and the National Film Center of Poland are the partners. Outdoor movie event is planned to take place in Kutaisi, on September 12-13; Batumi- from 15 till 21, within the frames of Batumi film festival, and Tbilisi, from 24 till 29 September, Rike Square.