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DIOCESE OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN GEORGIA ESTABLISHES FACT OF INFRINGEMENT OF SAINT NORASHEN CHURCH
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=113518
Ma y 19, 2008
TBILISI, MAY 19, ARMENIANS TODAY - NOYAN TAPAN. The Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Saint Church in Georgia expresses concern and
indignation "in connection with the act of infringement of the Saint
Norashen church and the territory near the church organized by Father
Tariel Sikinchelashvili, a clergyman of the Georgian Orthodox Church."
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the Diocese, the
Saint Norashen church was built in the middle of XV century as an
Armenian Apostolic Saint Church and has been included in the Armenian
Diocese in Georgia since the day of its foundation. In the 30-s of XX
century the church along with other religious constructions was closed
for religious activity and was used as a book storehouse. After the
restoration of state independence the Georgian government did not
return the church to its legal historic owner.
Now Father Tariel and a group of workers working under his guidance are
building an iron fence including religious elements characteristic of
the Georgian Orthodox Church for the purpose of enclosing the Saint
Norashen church building and the territory near it. The Armenian
Diocese considers that act as Georgian side's violating the agreement
reached between the Armenian Apostolic Saint Church and the Georgian
Orthodox Church on civilized solution of the issue of belonging of
the Saint Norashen church and the other four churches in the town
of Tbilisi.
Father Tariel said that soon he is going to start "restoration"
work inside the church building, after which divine service will be
conducted by clergymen of the Georgian Orthodox Church there.
In connection with the above mentioned, the Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Saint Church in Georgia officially, in a written form
applied to the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, as well
as to the proper state structures, which, according to the report,
have not undertaken any active steps yet to prevent the aggressive
act, which caused bewilderment and discontent among the parish of
the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, considering that circumstance as a
violation of their constitutional rights for religious freedom and
equality of religious rights.
"The Armenian Diocese reminds the Georgian side about the agreement
reached, strongly demands its observance, otherwise the development
of events can result in unpredictable consequences," the report of
the Diocese read.
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=113518
Ma y 19, 2008
TBILISI, MAY 19, ARMENIANS TODAY - NOYAN TAPAN. The Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Saint Church in Georgia expresses concern and
indignation "in connection with the act of infringement of the Saint
Norashen church and the territory near the church organized by Father
Tariel Sikinchelashvili, a clergyman of the Georgian Orthodox Church."
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the Diocese, the
Saint Norashen church was built in the middle of XV century as an
Armenian Apostolic Saint Church and has been included in the Armenian
Diocese in Georgia since the day of its foundation. In the 30-s of XX
century the church along with other religious constructions was closed
for religious activity and was used as a book storehouse. After the
restoration of state independence the Georgian government did not
return the church to its legal historic owner.
Now Father Tariel and a group of workers working under his guidance are
building an iron fence including religious elements characteristic of
the Georgian Orthodox Church for the purpose of enclosing the Saint
Norashen church building and the territory near it. The Armenian
Diocese considers that act as Georgian side's violating the agreement
reached between the Armenian Apostolic Saint Church and the Georgian
Orthodox Church on civilized solution of the issue of belonging of
the Saint Norashen church and the other four churches in the town
of Tbilisi.
Father Tariel said that soon he is going to start "restoration"
work inside the church building, after which divine service will be
conducted by clergymen of the Georgian Orthodox Church there.
In connection with the above mentioned, the Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Saint Church in Georgia officially, in a written form
applied to the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, as well
as to the proper state structures, which, according to the report,
have not undertaken any active steps yet to prevent the aggressive
act, which caused bewilderment and discontent among the parish of
the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, considering that circumstance as a
violation of their constitutional rights for religious freedom and
equality of religious rights.
"The Armenian Diocese reminds the Georgian side about the agreement
reached, strongly demands its observance, otherwise the development
of events can result in unpredictable consequences," the report of
the Diocese read.