PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
March 9, 2006

Supreme Spiritual Council Discusses Armenian Diocese of Georgia

On March 7, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council was convened in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, with the
participation of the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council residing in
Armenia.

During the meeting, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia, presented a report regarding the pastoral,
spiritual and church-building activities within the diocese.  He
particularly noted that the renovations of the church of Saint Gevork
(diocesan headquarters) and the church of Holy Etchmiadzin (in Tbilisi) are
planned for this year, the architectural drawings for which will soon be
completed.  His Grace happily reported on the spiritual reawakening within
the diocese, underlining the need for new clergymen to be assigned,
specifically to the vicarage in Javakhk.  He also noted that the
applications to Georgian state authorities have yet to be resolved,
regarding granting of appropriate legal standing to the diocese and the
return of six historic Armenian churches.  His Grace also stated that
certain mass media agencies within Georgia continue with anti-Armenian
announcements and commentaries, which create an atmosphere of intolerance
and tension.

In response to a query from the Supreme Spiritual Council, Bishop Vazgen
confirmed that the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, with their
decision of February 6, 2006, announced the creation of a new diocese within
the Republic of Armenia entitled Tashir-Agarak, subject to the bishop of the
Diocese of Dmanisi in Georgia, `…with the intent of reestablishing its
historic diocese’.

The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed disappointment that the Georgian
Orthodox Church did not inform the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin regarding
the creation of a new diocese located in the northern region of the Republic
of Armenia; and further, that their Synod is creating a new diocese in a
region where the Georgian Church has no faithful; while the rights of
hundreds of thousands of faithful Armenians living in Georgia to have the
Armenian Diocese granted appropriate legal standing and historic Armenian
churches returned are being ignored and disregarded.

The Supreme Spiritual Council received the report of the Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia with appreciation and satisfaction, and
commended his successful implementation of his mission, exhorting him to
enthusiastically continue his efforts aimed towards the enrichment of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia and the strengthening of the centuries-old
fraternal relations between the Armenian and Georgian people and Churches.