Tweet
SECOND MEETING OF CHRISTIAN CONFESSIONS OF GEORGIA TAKES PLACE IN PRIMACY OF VIRAHAYOTS DIOCESE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
TBILISI, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The second meeting of
primates of the Christian confessions of Georgia took place on March
27 at the primacy of the Virahayots Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto, the primate of the Roman Catholic
Church in Georgia, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili, the primate of the
Baptist Church, and Bishop Andreas Stoekl, the primate of the Lutheran
Church participated in the meeting. The meeting started with a pray
after what Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, the primate of the Virahayots
Diocese welcame all those present and mentioned the necessity of
continuing the ecumenic dialogue among churches. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Press Services of the Virahayots Diocese, the necessity
of getting a legal state by signing a special agreement among the state
and church confessions because of absence of the law "On Freedom of
Conscience and Religion" in Georgia became the first subject of the
discussion. Concerning the issue, His Holiness Vazgen proposed to
address a letter to the President of Georgia, and for intercession,
to the Patriarch of Georgia. The primates of the churches welcame
the proposal of His Holiness and agreed to sign the joint letter. The
primate informed those present that he met with Akhund Ali Aliyev, the
spiritual primate of the Mahometan community who has already given his
agreement to sign the letter. His Holiness Vazgen expressed hope that
he will soon get a positive response from Rabbi Avimelech Rosenblath,
the spiritual primate of the Jewish community as well. His Holiness
Vazgen emphasized that the Government of Georgia must recognize
the rights of representatives of both Christian confessions, and of
Mahometan and Jewish communities, as they made together more than 1
mln people who are full citizens of Georgia. For avoiding religious
and ethnic conflicts in Georgia, His Holiness Vasgen proposed to
create a "Round Table" in Tbilisi which will implement some programs
joint with the "Round Table" functioning in Armenia. By the proposal
of His Holiness, representatives of both Christian confessions and
Mahometan and Jewish communities will be involved in the council
staff. The primates of churches discussed terms of holding the
evening party of spiritual songs at the end of the meeting. The
Primate of the Virahayots Diocese proposed to hold the party of
spiritual songs on April 24, All Saints Day, which coincides this
year with the 91th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide conducted in
Ottaman Turkey. Giving his agreement, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili,
the primate of the Baptist church attached importance to the idea of
holding the event on that day. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto proposed that
the evening party of spiritual songs become a tradition and is every
year held on Monday following the Easter, symbolizing victory of life
and light against death and darkness. The primates of the churches
agreed to discuss schedule of the next meeting at the evening party
of the spiritual concert.
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
TBILISI, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The second meeting of
primates of the Christian confessions of Georgia took place on March
27 at the primacy of the Virahayots Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto, the primate of the Roman Catholic
Church in Georgia, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili, the primate of the
Baptist Church, and Bishop Andreas Stoekl, the primate of the Lutheran
Church participated in the meeting. The meeting started with a pray
after what Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, the primate of the Virahayots
Diocese welcame all those present and mentioned the necessity of
continuing the ecumenic dialogue among churches. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Press Services of the Virahayots Diocese, the necessity
of getting a legal state by signing a special agreement among the state
and church confessions because of absence of the law "On Freedom of
Conscience and Religion" in Georgia became the first subject of the
discussion. Concerning the issue, His Holiness Vazgen proposed to
address a letter to the President of Georgia, and for intercession,
to the Patriarch of Georgia. The primates of the churches welcame
the proposal of His Holiness and agreed to sign the joint letter. The
primate informed those present that he met with Akhund Ali Aliyev, the
spiritual primate of the Mahometan community who has already given his
agreement to sign the letter. His Holiness Vazgen expressed hope that
he will soon get a positive response from Rabbi Avimelech Rosenblath,
the spiritual primate of the Jewish community as well. His Holiness
Vazgen emphasized that the Government of Georgia must recognize
the rights of representatives of both Christian confessions, and of
Mahometan and Jewish communities, as they made together more than 1
mln people who are full citizens of Georgia. For avoiding religious
and ethnic conflicts in Georgia, His Holiness Vasgen proposed to
create a "Round Table" in Tbilisi which will implement some programs
joint with the "Round Table" functioning in Armenia. By the proposal
of His Holiness, representatives of both Christian confessions and
Mahometan and Jewish communities will be involved in the council
staff. The primates of churches discussed terms of holding the
evening party of spiritual songs at the end of the meeting. The
Primate of the Virahayots Diocese proposed to hold the party of
spiritual songs on April 24, All Saints Day, which coincides this
year with the 91th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide conducted in
Ottaman Turkey. Giving his agreement, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili,
the primate of the Baptist church attached importance to the idea of
holding the event on that day. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto proposed that
the evening party of spiritual songs become a tradition and is every
year held on Monday following the Easter, symbolizing victory of life
and light against death and darkness. The primates of the churches
agreed to discuss schedule of the next meeting at the evening party
of the spiritual concert.