The petition
The petition is dedicated to:
- support Armenian community of Georgia
- stop discrimination or Armenian national minority and vandalism of Armenian historical heritage in Georgia!
For russian text and more information visit www.norashen.blog.com
For any comments and/or questions mail us: save.norashen@gmail.com
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His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians
The president or the Republic of Georgia Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili
The president of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sarksyan
Public societies of both countries
We, the undersigned,
Taking into consideration centuries-old good relations of two ancient nations - Georgia and Armenia, and the historical relations of the Churches of both nations based on the same social and Christian values, call you for prompt resolution of the problems of the Armenian Church in the territory of the Republic of Georgia!
We would like to note that the Armenian community of Georgia during its existence has made its positive contribution to the development of its native land - Georgia, thereby, enriching social, historical and cultural heritage of Georgia. Moreover during fifteen centuries of Armenian ecclesiastical presence in Georgia hundreds of religious and cultural sites, namely churches, seminaries, monasteries, were created by members of the Armenian Church. A huge portion of these sites is now non-existent due to natural disasters, wars, vandalism, and other factors.
We remind you that at the beginning of the XX century, there were about 25 Armenian churches in Tbilisi (Tiflis), from which Bolsheviks destroyed 10 during the period of the formation of the Soviet Union, and the rest, except two churches, were closed. Since the late eighties to the early nineties, 7 churches from the 13 temporarily nonfunctioning Armenian churches of the city were transformed into as Georgian orthodox churches. Nowadays the Armenian Diocese of Georgia and the Armenian community of the capital have only two functioning churches. The issue of the remaining 6 temporarily non-functioning churches (many of which are in need of fundamental reconstruction) remains unresolved. The issue of these unresolved problem increases with the destructive actions of some representatives of the Georgian clergy oriented to abuse the Armenian church of the Blessed Virgin “Norashen”, which is located on Leselidze Street of the capital’s old district. The church was vandalized several times by father Tariel, the priest of the neighboring Georgian church “Jvris Mamis Monastery”.
We, the undersigned, call:
1. To stop vandalism of the Armenian churches and the Armenian historical heritage in Georgia
2. To stop the process of “georgianization” of the Armenian churches in the territory of Georgia
3. To granting the right of ownership of the Armenian church of the “Norashen Surb Astvatsatsin” and the remaining "temporarily non-functioning" five churches (or, at least, whatever is left): “Surb Nshan”, “Mughni Surb Gevorg”, “Surb Minas”, “Tandoyants Surb Astvatsatsin”, “Shamkhoretsors Surb Astvatsatsin” as well as survived bell tower of Cathedral “Vank” in Tbilisi and the right of ownership to the Armenian church “Surb Nshan” in the city of Akhaltsikhe to their historical owner - the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the Republic of Georgia
4. To resolve the issue of official registration of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the Republic of Georgia
We call you to consider the fact that we live today in the XXI century, where the infringement of the rights of national and religious minorities is a crime against humanity; and the fact that the Church and indivisible Belief should be the uniting force of two Christian nations and not an "apple of discord"!
Looking forward to the promptest resolution of the aforementioned issues,
Yours faithfully,
(The undersigned)
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