Peaceful march against seizure of Armenian churches in Georgia held

PanArmenian News
March 4 2005

PEACEFUL MARCH AGAINST SEIZURE OF ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN GEORGIA HELD
IN TBILISI

04.03.2005 14:44

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 3 about 200 representatives of the
Georgian and Armenian youth organization gathered near the Georgian
Church of Sioni situated near the Nubarashen Armenian Church and
marched to the Armenian Church of Surb Gevorg, IA Regnum reports.
Georgian and Armenian youth joined to hold a peaceful action to
protest against the activity of the Georgian Clergy directed to the
seizure of the Armenian Church. In the Surb Gevorg Church they
lighted candles and were blessed by father Abgar, who recollected the
times when the representatives of both nations launched pilgrimages
during which Georgians visited Saint Echmiadzin and participated in
the liturgies together with the Armenians, who then came to Mtskhetu
to celebrate the Svetitskhoveli Holiday. He noted that the tradition
was preserved even during the soviet period, when the religion, to
put it mildly, was not heartened. However despite their good
intentions some of the Georgian young people participating in the
march preferred not to enter the Armenian Church. Some of the young
Armenians put up tents in front of the Nubarashen Church. The
Armenian Diocese of Georgia hopes that the problem will receive a
solution during the top meeting of Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II and Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.