FIRE BURST IN ST NSHAN ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI
ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN
Fire burst in St Nshan Armenian Church in Tbilisi late at night January
9. While extinguishing it, the south-eastern column of the monument
collapsed. Armenia's Ministry of Culture told Armenpress that a group
of experts has been sent to Tbilisi headed by the head of the agency
of protection of historical and cultural monuments Serzhik Arakelyan
to study the circumstances of the incident on site and jointly discuss
the necessary events.
People living near the church told Times.am correspondent that
they are unaware of the causes of the fire. Instead they informed
that the church, abandoned by all, has become a place for homeless,
drug and alcohol addicts. Georgian authorities too avoid speaking
about the causes of the fire. The fire was extinguished by water,
instead of foam, which in its turn caused new damages to the walls
of the church as a result of which a column of the church collapsed.
In 2002 the church was in fire too. Before that, it was damaged
as a result of an earthquake. During the past years the Georgian
authorities have not initiated anything for the restoration of the
building. Currently the church is standing thanks to the firmness of
walls and the three remained columns.
ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN
Fire burst in St Nshan Armenian Church in Tbilisi late at night January
9. While extinguishing it, the south-eastern column of the monument
collapsed. Armenia's Ministry of Culture told Armenpress that a group
of experts has been sent to Tbilisi headed by the head of the agency
of protection of historical and cultural monuments Serzhik Arakelyan
to study the circumstances of the incident on site and jointly discuss
the necessary events.
People living near the church told Times.am correspondent that
they are unaware of the causes of the fire. Instead they informed
that the church, abandoned by all, has become a place for homeless,
drug and alcohol addicts. Georgian authorities too avoid speaking
about the causes of the fire. The fire was extinguished by water,
instead of foam, which in its turn caused new damages to the walls
of the church as a result of which a column of the church collapsed.
In 2002 the church was in fire too. Before that, it was damaged
as a result of an earthquake. During the past years the Georgian
authorities have not initiated anything for the restoration of the
building. Currently the church is standing thanks to the firmness of
walls and the three remained columns.