You might find this story familiar – recently, Repat Armenia shared how Gayane Bayatyan moved to Armenia from Krasnodar, Russia. Lusine is her sister – and she has been on a similar path. Last September, she made the big move home too, this time through the iGorts program.
 

Between Yerevan and Krasnodar
 

Lusine studied languages and web programming at Brusov University in Yerevan. After graduating, she moved to Russia to start her career. She tried her hand at translation and web development but over time, she knew neither was what she truly wanted to do.
 

Getting Involved through Church
 

Back in 2015, the Armenian Church in Krasnodar was organizing events to commemorate 100 years since the Genocide. Lusine and her sister were regulars at the Surb Hovhannes Avetaranich Cathedral – and soon got involved with its youth group, which connects young Armenians across the whole Diocese.
 

It was not long before Lusine took on more responsibility. A few years later, she became the head of the youth organization and later, assistant director of the “Vardanyan” cultural and educational center, running a Sunday school called Armat.
 

On top of that, she was regularly organizing events, working on film projects and engaging with the Armenian community.
 

Even during her 11 years in Krasnodar, Lusine came back to Armenia often – for pilgrimages, youth forums and cultural events.
 

Armenia Was Always Close
 

“I never really wanted to leave Armenia in the first place,” she says. “I was always planning to come back.”
 

Back Home with iGorts
 

Lusine first joined the “Young Diaspora Ambassador” program in 2021. After that, she started getting offers in Armenia through iGorts.
 

But she could not accept them right away – her work in the Krasnodar Diocese kept her busy. “Every year I told myself, ‘Next year I’ll go,’” she says. “And finally, the time was right.”
 

Now she is working with the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema. She organizes workshops, film screenings, official meetings, and cultural exchanges. Guests include top experts from Armenia and abroad.
 

She also coordinates the Youth Experimental Theatre at the Institute and produces plays.
 

Her iGorts term wraps up in September 2025 – but Lusine isn’t leaving. “I’m here to stay,” she says.
 

Collaboration with Jivan Avetisyan
 

She is also on the production team for Jivan Avetisyan’s upcoming film Angels 2020, which tells the story of doctors during the 2020 war.
 

And recently, she started working with filmmaker Hayk Ordyan at Order Film Production.
 

It’s Unity That We Need Most
 

“I visited Armenia often, so I didn’t feel fully disconnected. But coming to visit and actually living here – they’re two different things,” Lusine says. “Now, I feel like myself. There’s a calm and a sense of wholeness that I didn’t have anywhere else.”
 

“There are problems, sure – everyday things. But what matters is the goal: to serve your homeland. I worked for Armenia even from abroad, but being here makes that work feel real,” she reflects.
 

“I was trying to do that even from Russia, but now it’s different. Now I’m here, and I can be fully present.”
 

She sees challenges in both countries – in Russia, it is about preserving identity; in Armenia, about rebuilding after war.
 

“What we need most is unity and commitment. If each of us puts in just a little bit of effort, we’ll get where we need to go faster.
 

Whatever shape our homeland is in – it’s ours and no one else is going to build it for us. If you can apply your skills here, why live in someone else’s country?”
 

Even now, Lusine continues to support the church community in Krasnodar remotely – staying active as both a Young Diaspora Ambassador and head of the Diocese’s youth organization.

By Nare Bejanyan