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GEORGIA ADOPTING LAW WAS SEEN AS SOLUTION TO PROBLEM IN ARMENIAN CHURCH'S FAVOR: CONFLICTOLOGIST
epress.am
07.14.2011
The Georgian authorities were able to reach an agreement with the
Georgian Orthodox Church regarding the issue of the legislative
amendments that threatened to seriously destabilize the country. The
authorities have promised the Church that their property rights won't
be violated after which point the Holy Synod urged the congregation
to remain calm, reports Russian-language news source Kommersant.
The conflict between the Church and the country's leadership came after
the parliament approved amendments to the Civil Code that conferred
legal status to religious groups in the country - without consulting
the Patriarchate.
"There's nothing in the law that violates the rights of the Church.
People began to think that the president had insulted the Patriarch,"
said conflictologist Giorgi Abashidze.
"Also having a great impact was the fact that immediately after the
adoption of these amendments, the Armenian Catholicos Karekin II
thanked [Georgian] President Saakashvili," added Republican Party
of Georgia leader David Berdzenishvili. "Rivalry between Georgia
and Armenia exists on the mental level and the adoption of the law
without discussion or clarification was fraught with massive protests
and even anti-Armenian demonstrations."
"If we put the amendments up for a public debate, the law would
never have been accepted," one Georgian parliamentarian told the
paper. "The Georgian Orthodox Church enjoys absolute authority - 99%
of the population trusts the Patriarch." These remarks are perhaps
not without grounds, reports Kommersant, since starting last Saturday,
thousands have been demonstrating in the center of Tbilisi in support
of the Patriarch's stance on the issue.
Left in the shadows during the debates on the amendments was, that
which is crucial, not the status of the churches, but property
conflicts, said Abashidze.
According to him, after the law was approved, it was suspected that
what was being discussed was disputed church property being transfered
to the Armenian Church. "They have claims on several Armenian churches
in Georgia. The Georgian Church would like to regain some churches in
Armenia considered to be Georgian, although Armenian priests have long
been conducting worship there. The adoption of the law in Georgia was
seen as the solution to the property issue - in the Armenian Church's
favor," he said.
The Church did not want to escalate the conflict with the authorities.
"The Patriarch is not a fan of revolutions; he is in favor of
compromise, though he could've gone against the authorities many
times," concluded Abashidze.
From: A. Papazian
epress.am
07.14.2011
The Georgian authorities were able to reach an agreement with the
Georgian Orthodox Church regarding the issue of the legislative
amendments that threatened to seriously destabilize the country. The
authorities have promised the Church that their property rights won't
be violated after which point the Holy Synod urged the congregation
to remain calm, reports Russian-language news source Kommersant.
The conflict between the Church and the country's leadership came after
the parliament approved amendments to the Civil Code that conferred
legal status to religious groups in the country - without consulting
the Patriarchate.
"There's nothing in the law that violates the rights of the Church.
People began to think that the president had insulted the Patriarch,"
said conflictologist Giorgi Abashidze.
"Also having a great impact was the fact that immediately after the
adoption of these amendments, the Armenian Catholicos Karekin II
thanked [Georgian] President Saakashvili," added Republican Party
of Georgia leader David Berdzenishvili. "Rivalry between Georgia
and Armenia exists on the mental level and the adoption of the law
without discussion or clarification was fraught with massive protests
and even anti-Armenian demonstrations."
"If we put the amendments up for a public debate, the law would
never have been accepted," one Georgian parliamentarian told the
paper. "The Georgian Orthodox Church enjoys absolute authority - 99%
of the population trusts the Patriarch." These remarks are perhaps
not without grounds, reports Kommersant, since starting last Saturday,
thousands have been demonstrating in the center of Tbilisi in support
of the Patriarch's stance on the issue.
Left in the shadows during the debates on the amendments was, that
which is crucial, not the status of the churches, but property
conflicts, said Abashidze.
According to him, after the law was approved, it was suspected that
what was being discussed was disputed church property being transfered
to the Armenian Church. "They have claims on several Armenian churches
in Georgia. The Georgian Church would like to regain some churches in
Armenia considered to be Georgian, although Armenian priests have long
been conducting worship there. The adoption of the law in Georgia was
seen as the solution to the property issue - in the Armenian Church's
favor," he said.
The Church did not want to escalate the conflict with the authorities.
"The Patriarch is not a fan of revolutions; he is in favor of
compromise, though he could've gone against the authorities many
times," concluded Abashidze.
From: A. Papazian