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ANOTHER ARMENIAN CHURCH VANDALIZED IN GEORGIA
news.am
Aug 22, 2011
Armenia
TBILISI. - Another Armenian church was vandalized in Georgia. This
time it was Church of Surb Etchmiadzin located in the capital, Tbilisi,
which was consecrated by Armenian Catholicos Karekin II two months ago.
On August 19 evening two young people, supposedly drunk, entered the
Armenian church. Two sellers of candles and cleanup woman labeled
their behavior as arrogant and disrespectful, Armenia-based Yerkir
Media television reported.
One of them started to turn over the pages of the Holy Book placed on
the sanctuary tearing off one of the pages. He also sat down on the
chair of bishop. Women tried to call young people to order and finally
ousted them from the church. Young people tore off the announcements
installed on the doors and burnt them down.
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan said they had appealed to police. Diocese of
the Armenian church intends to appeal to Georgia's Internal Ministry
and other structures and file a note of protest to the Georgian
Orthodox Church.
Mirzakhanyan said young people's behavior is a result of the recent
amendments made to the legislation providing for legal status to the
religious minorities of Georgia. The legislation sparked anti-Armenian
sentiments.
The Armenian diocese of Georgia plans to issue a statement on the
incident. Earlier Georgia's ombudsman was informed. A month ago unknown
left inscriptions insulting Armenians on the walls of a hotel located
near the Surb Etchmiadzin church.
news.am
Aug 22, 2011
Armenia
TBILISI. - Another Armenian church was vandalized in Georgia. This
time it was Church of Surb Etchmiadzin located in the capital, Tbilisi,
which was consecrated by Armenian Catholicos Karekin II two months ago.
On August 19 evening two young people, supposedly drunk, entered the
Armenian church. Two sellers of candles and cleanup woman labeled
their behavior as arrogant and disrespectful, Armenia-based Yerkir
Media television reported.
One of them started to turn over the pages of the Holy Book placed on
the sanctuary tearing off one of the pages. He also sat down on the
chair of bishop. Women tried to call young people to order and finally
ousted them from the church. Young people tore off the announcements
installed on the doors and burnt them down.
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan said they had appealed to police. Diocese of
the Armenian church intends to appeal to Georgia's Internal Ministry
and other structures and file a note of protest to the Georgian
Orthodox Church.
Mirzakhanyan said young people's behavior is a result of the recent
amendments made to the legislation providing for legal status to the
religious minorities of Georgia. The legislation sparked anti-Armenian
sentiments.
The Armenian diocese of Georgia plans to issue a statement on the
incident. Earlier Georgia's ombudsman was informed. A month ago unknown
left inscriptions insulting Armenians on the walls of a hotel located
near the Surb Etchmiadzin church.