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FIGUREHEADS OF ARMENIAN CHURCH VISIT GEORGIA
By Salome Modebadze
The Messenger
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2375_june_13_2011/2375_patriarki.html
June 13 2011
Georgia
On June 10 Karekin II Catholicos of Armenian Church and his delegation
began an official 6-day visit to Georgia. The Catholicos-Patriarch of
All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta
and Tskhum-Abkhazia Ilia the Second ceremonially met his Armenian
counterpart with members of the Georgian synod at the border. Ilia
the Second took the guests to the Saint Trinity Cathedral where His
Holiness and Beatitude highlighted the "historic importance" of the
Armenian Catholicos' visit after their closed-door dialogue. "Your
visit is the continuation of the multi-century friendship between the
Georgians and Armenians. I'm sure your visit will further strengthen
our friendly relations and I think that we will spare no efforts
to strengthen our ties," Ilia the Second said calling Georgian and
Armenian churches with the "Christian oasis".
Recollecting that there have definitely been differences about
particular issues Georgian Patriarch stressed that their friendship
had proved its dedication to all issues. "You have seen how warmly
our people have greeted you in Georgia. It emphasized that we share
the same fate and future which needs great care. In the epoch of
globalization we should safeguard our historical traditions and its
tremendous treasury," His Holiness said in reference to the Armenian
Patriarch praising his activities within the Armenian Church.
A special reception for the delegation was held in the Georgian
Patriarchy in Tbilisi on Saturday where the two leaders of the Orthodox
churches discussed ways of deepening the cultural relationship between
the nations. Having agreed to start consultations on giving legal
statuses to the Georgian-Armenian churches, Karekin II expressed
his hopes that his visit to Georgia would help resolve the disputes
between the sides.
On the same day the Armenian Patriarch and Ilia the Second visited
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at his presidential palace.
Karekin II became familiar with the projects planned to be
carried out in Georgia while President Saakashvili also showed the
Armenian Catholicos the Old Tbilisi sights and the model of the new
parliamentary building to be completed in Kutaisi in the near future.
Blessing the whole of Georgia and its president, Karekin II attended
the special reception where the Georgian National Sukhishvili Ballet
performed dances prepared in his honor.
In the frames of their 6-day visit the Armenian delegation attended the
opening ceremony of the cultural centre oriented on Armenian-Georgian
cooperation in the yard of the Armenian Church where Karekin II
held a liturgy for the parish. Stressing the necessity for deepening
bilateral cooperation between the sides Karekin II thanked the Georgian
Catholicos for his great help towards Armenia. From today to June
15 the Armenian delegation will make a trip to Samtskhe-Javakheti
region predominantly populated by an ethnic Armenian population and
also visit Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, Ninotsminda and Tsalka
before its departure on Wednesday.
By Salome Modebadze
The Messenger
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2375_june_13_2011/2375_patriarki.html
June 13 2011
Georgia
On June 10 Karekin II Catholicos of Armenian Church and his delegation
began an official 6-day visit to Georgia. The Catholicos-Patriarch of
All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta
and Tskhum-Abkhazia Ilia the Second ceremonially met his Armenian
counterpart with members of the Georgian synod at the border. Ilia
the Second took the guests to the Saint Trinity Cathedral where His
Holiness and Beatitude highlighted the "historic importance" of the
Armenian Catholicos' visit after their closed-door dialogue. "Your
visit is the continuation of the multi-century friendship between the
Georgians and Armenians. I'm sure your visit will further strengthen
our friendly relations and I think that we will spare no efforts
to strengthen our ties," Ilia the Second said calling Georgian and
Armenian churches with the "Christian oasis".
Recollecting that there have definitely been differences about
particular issues Georgian Patriarch stressed that their friendship
had proved its dedication to all issues. "You have seen how warmly
our people have greeted you in Georgia. It emphasized that we share
the same fate and future which needs great care. In the epoch of
globalization we should safeguard our historical traditions and its
tremendous treasury," His Holiness said in reference to the Armenian
Patriarch praising his activities within the Armenian Church.
A special reception for the delegation was held in the Georgian
Patriarchy in Tbilisi on Saturday where the two leaders of the Orthodox
churches discussed ways of deepening the cultural relationship between
the nations. Having agreed to start consultations on giving legal
statuses to the Georgian-Armenian churches, Karekin II expressed
his hopes that his visit to Georgia would help resolve the disputes
between the sides.
On the same day the Armenian Patriarch and Ilia the Second visited
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at his presidential palace.
Karekin II became familiar with the projects planned to be
carried out in Georgia while President Saakashvili also showed the
Armenian Catholicos the Old Tbilisi sights and the model of the new
parliamentary building to be completed in Kutaisi in the near future.
Blessing the whole of Georgia and its president, Karekin II attended
the special reception where the Georgian National Sukhishvili Ballet
performed dances prepared in his honor.
In the frames of their 6-day visit the Armenian delegation attended the
opening ceremony of the cultural centre oriented on Armenian-Georgian
cooperation in the yard of the Armenian Church where Karekin II
held a liturgy for the parish. Stressing the necessity for deepening
bilateral cooperation between the sides Karekin II thanked the Georgian
Catholicos for his great help towards Armenia. From today to June
15 the Armenian delegation will make a trip to Samtskhe-Javakheti
region predominantly populated by an ethnic Armenian population and
also visit Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, Ninotsminda and Tsalka
before its departure on Wednesday.