PanARMENIAN.Net

Georgian Orthodox Church Founded Diocese in Armenia,
Armenian Apostolic Church Puzzled

11.03.2006 20:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Supreme Council of the Armenian
Apostolic Church (AAC) has expressed its confusion
over a decision of the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox
Church (GOC) to establish a diocese in the territory
of Armenia without notifying the AAC. By its decision
of February 6 the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox
Church has established a new – Tashir-Agarak –
Diocese, subordinating it to religious authority of
Dmanisi Diocese bishop and without notifying the
Armenian Apostolic Church. A statement of the AAC says
that the new Georgian diocese `is established in the
northern region of Armenia,’ in localities `where the
GOC has no parish.’ Meanwhile, `the fair right of
hundreds of thousand of Armenians for return of
churches to the Armenian Diocese is ignored’ in
Georgia, the Council members noted. According to
Armenian bishops, no appeals to Georgian authorities
on providing public status to the Armenian Diocese and
on return of 6 historical Armenian temples are
satisfied yet. The Council urged `to continue efforts
to flourish the AAC Diocese in Georgia and strengthen
the centuries-old fraternal relations between the
Armenian and Georgian peoples and Churches,’ reports Itar-Tass.