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GEORGIA PURSUES AGGRESSIVE CHURCH POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.05.2008 15:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The church expansion of the Georgian states has a
long record, chairman of Mitq analytical center said.
"The attempts to appropriate the Armenian Church of Saint Norashen
and 'georgify' the Armenian Churches in Samtskhe Javakheti are not
accidental," Eduard Abrahamyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
"Georgia's territorial expansion was exercised not only through
conquests but also through church expansion over the Albanians,
Vaynakh, Megrel, Ossetian, Armenian and Abkhazian population
under Georgia's influence. There are numerous examples of complete
assimilation: Udins and Gells in Kakhetia, Armenians in Tayk, Kakhetia,
Kartli and Meskhetia," he said.
"Consequently, the Georgian Orthodox Church has always been an extra
force for dissimilating the Georgian state system over neighbors
via granting finances to the communities which accepted the Georgian
orthodoxy," he added.
Today, we witness developed and modernized Georgian church expansion
over the neighbors, according to the Armenian expert.
"Georgia pursues aggressive church policy toward Armenia as
well. Despite continuous oppression of Georgian Armenians, the GOC
has recently announced establishment of Lori-Tashir Church in Lori,
which is "a legal Georgian territory," he said.
"Georgia lays claims to 7 Churches and monasteries in Sanahin,
Kobayra, Akhtala, Haghpat, Khorakert and Khuchapavank as well as to
Russian Orthodox Church in Vanadzor and other historical and religious
monuments in Lori."
Georgian clergymen often put up tents in surroundings of these churches
to prevent attendance of the holy places. Under the circumstances,
the Armenian leadership jointly with the passive AAC should develop a
plan to protect Armenian cultural and religious heritage," Abrahamyan
concluded.
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.05.2008 15:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The church expansion of the Georgian states has a
long record, chairman of Mitq analytical center said.
"The attempts to appropriate the Armenian Church of Saint Norashen
and 'georgify' the Armenian Churches in Samtskhe Javakheti are not
accidental," Eduard Abrahamyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
"Georgia's territorial expansion was exercised not only through
conquests but also through church expansion over the Albanians,
Vaynakh, Megrel, Ossetian, Armenian and Abkhazian population
under Georgia's influence. There are numerous examples of complete
assimilation: Udins and Gells in Kakhetia, Armenians in Tayk, Kakhetia,
Kartli and Meskhetia," he said.
"Consequently, the Georgian Orthodox Church has always been an extra
force for dissimilating the Georgian state system over neighbors
via granting finances to the communities which accepted the Georgian
orthodoxy," he added.
Today, we witness developed and modernized Georgian church expansion
over the neighbors, according to the Armenian expert.
"Georgia pursues aggressive church policy toward Armenia as
well. Despite continuous oppression of Georgian Armenians, the GOC
has recently announced establishment of Lori-Tashir Church in Lori,
which is "a legal Georgian territory," he said.
"Georgia lays claims to 7 Churches and monasteries in Sanahin,
Kobayra, Akhtala, Haghpat, Khorakert and Khuchapavank as well as to
Russian Orthodox Church in Vanadzor and other historical and religious
monuments in Lori."
Georgian clergymen often put up tents in surroundings of these churches
to prevent attendance of the holy places. Under the circumstances,
the Armenian leadership jointly with the passive AAC should develop a
plan to protect Armenian cultural and religious heritage," Abrahamyan
concluded.