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MAJOR SECTION OF 14TH CENTURY ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI COLLAPSED WEDNESDAY EVENING
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 12:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A major section of a 14th century Armenian church
in Tbilisi collapsed Wednesday evening, after years of neglect by the
authorities to repair the historic structure, reported the Georgian
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church on Thursday.
The St. Gevorg of Mughni Church, built in 1356, had been entirely
rebuilt in 1756. It is made of brick and its architectural typology
is that of a cross within a rectangular perimeter, with four
free-standing supports. The church had been closed for years, owing
to the structures deteriorating condition. Locals say the recent
rains further exacerbated the damage to the church.
450px-Saint_Gevorg_of_Mughni_Church,_Tbil isiThe medieval church had
been operating as a museum of folk art until the mid-1980s. By 1990
it was no longer a museum and its interior lay in ruin. The vestibule
attached to the western facade of the church was destroyed in May,
1991.
"The Georgian Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports
should bear the responsibility," the Diocese said in a statement
Thursday. "All this creates an impression that by failing to solve
the issue of returning the churches to the Armenian Diocese, the
Georgian Patriarchate and authorities do not pay proper attention
to the preservation of Armenian churches, and intentionally destroy
important monuments of Armenian culture."
Georgian authorities had pointed to large cracks in the church's
walls as an excuse to demolish the church instead of repair it. The
district governor in Tbilisi Thursday promised to allocate funds for
reconstruction of the church.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 12:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A major section of a 14th century Armenian church
in Tbilisi collapsed Wednesday evening, after years of neglect by the
authorities to repair the historic structure, reported the Georgian
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church on Thursday.
The St. Gevorg of Mughni Church, built in 1356, had been entirely
rebuilt in 1756. It is made of brick and its architectural typology
is that of a cross within a rectangular perimeter, with four
free-standing supports. The church had been closed for years, owing
to the structures deteriorating condition. Locals say the recent
rains further exacerbated the damage to the church.
450px-Saint_Gevorg_of_Mughni_Church,_Tbil isiThe medieval church had
been operating as a museum of folk art until the mid-1980s. By 1990
it was no longer a museum and its interior lay in ruin. The vestibule
attached to the western facade of the church was destroyed in May,
1991.
"The Georgian Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports
should bear the responsibility," the Diocese said in a statement
Thursday. "All this creates an impression that by failing to solve
the issue of returning the churches to the Armenian Diocese, the
Georgian Patriarchate and authorities do not pay proper attention
to the preservation of Armenian churches, and intentionally destroy
important monuments of Armenian culture."
Georgian authorities had pointed to large cracks in the church's
walls as an excuse to demolish the church instead of repair it. The
district governor in Tbilisi Thursday promised to allocate funds for
reconstruction of the church.