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ArmenPress
March 15 2005
SAAKASHVILI LEAVES ARMENIAN CLERGY'S LETTER UNANSWERED
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Archimandrite Abgar Hovakimian, who
is the deputy head of the Armenian Church Diocese in Georgia, told
Armenpress a letter the Prelacy sent to Georgian president
Saakashvili requesting his intervention to stop further desecration
of Armenian churches and other historical monuments across Georgia
has not been responded yet. The letter also asked for a clear cut
status for the Armenian Prelacy in Georgia demanding that Armenian
churches be handed over to its management.
He said though the problem was discussed during a last week visit
to Yerevan by Georgian prime minister Zurab Noghaideli, however, a
final solution is expected to come from a meeting between the
religious leaders of Armenians and Georgians. He said Armenian
cultural and historical monuments supervised by Georgian culture
ministry are overlooked and cited a recent incident when Armenian
gravestones in the yard of Norashen Armenian church in Tbilisi were
replaced with Georgian gravestones. Days earlier Armenian cross
stones were destroyed at Gremi church complex. He said Surb Nshan
church in Akhaltsikha remains closed, while monuments there are being
destroyed.
The headquarters of the Armenian Church in Etchmiadzin told
Armenpress this problem is in their focus and they are taking steps
to attract Georgian authorities and clergy's attention to this
problem.
March 15 2005
SAAKASHVILI LEAVES ARMENIAN CLERGY'S LETTER UNANSWERED
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Archimandrite Abgar Hovakimian, who
is the deputy head of the Armenian Church Diocese in Georgia, told
Armenpress a letter the Prelacy sent to Georgian president
Saakashvili requesting his intervention to stop further desecration
of Armenian churches and other historical monuments across Georgia
has not been responded yet. The letter also asked for a clear cut
status for the Armenian Prelacy in Georgia demanding that Armenian
churches be handed over to its management.
He said though the problem was discussed during a last week visit
to Yerevan by Georgian prime minister Zurab Noghaideli, however, a
final solution is expected to come from a meeting between the
religious leaders of Armenians and Georgians. He said Armenian
cultural and historical monuments supervised by Georgian culture
ministry are overlooked and cited a recent incident when Armenian
gravestones in the yard of Norashen Armenian church in Tbilisi were
replaced with Georgian gravestones. Days earlier Armenian cross
stones were destroyed at Gremi church complex. He said Surb Nshan
church in Akhaltsikha remains closed, while monuments there are being
destroyed.
The headquarters of the Armenian Church in Etchmiadzin told
Armenpress this problem is in their focus and they are taking steps
to attract Georgian authorities and clergy's attention to this
problem.