VANDALISM AND MISAPPROPRIATION OF ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN GEORGIA GOES ON

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 GMT+04:00

It actually turns out that Georgian Government pampers Georgian
Orthodox Church (GOC) in their initiative to appropriate Armenian
churches, believing that Armenians have nowhere to go. This position
is dangerous and apparently leads to a deadlock.

On November 16 Georgia once more committed vandalism towards the
long-suffering Church of Norashen in Tbilisi. This time for infamous
priest of the Georgian Orthodox Church Father Tariel Sikinchelashvili
as an object of barbarity served the graves of Mikhail and Lydia
Tamamshevs. The outraged mob of Tbilisi Armenians strongly demanded
that gravestones be placed back, and a bitter quarrel began.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Father Tariel made harsh statements in response,
stressing that "Armenians are inclined to capture what is not
theirs". However, upon arrival of representatives of the Armenian
Apostolic Church and Member of the Georgian Parliament, Armenian by
nationality Van Bayburt, the Georgian monk tried to justify himself
by saying that he had just moved the gravestones away to "clean under
them". Hence, we wonder what he was going to clean there.

The Church of Norashen was built in the middle of the 15th century. In
30s of the 20th century together with other religious buildings
the church was closed for religious activities and was transformed
into a depository of books. However, after Georgia’s independence,
the Georgian Government did not return the church to its legal,
historical owner but, instead, multiplied its actions aimed at
appropriating Norashen.

After two days of silence the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC)
expressed its opinion on the act of sacrilege (Tariel’s actions cannot
be interpreted otherwise). Â"We strictly criticize the treatment of
Georgian clergymen towards the Church of Norashen in Tbilisi. What is
going on in the yard of the Armenian Church Norashen is disharmonious
with the spirit of the centuries-old relations between the Republics
of Georgia and Armenia. I am in no doubt that Hierarchy of the Georgian
Orthodox Church (GOC) will take all the necessary steps for suppressing
the actions of Father Tariel Sikinchelashvili, since they are not in
agreement with the Christian spiritÂ", said Head of Holy Echmiadzin
Press Office, Father Vahram Melikyan.

Melikyan also noted that Georgian Eparchy of the AAC does not have a
state status yet, and the Church of Norashen, in fact, does not belong
to it. Â"All the Armenian churches in Georgia belong to the State,
and it ill-treats them, certainly with the help of the GOC clergy.

In a word, vandalism and misappropriation of Armenian churches in
Georgia goes on, despite the agreement between the Prime-Ministers
of both countries not to maltreat the Church of Norashen. For some
reasons Tbilisi welcomes the existence of synagogues, catholic
churches or mosques in its territory. Doesn’t the reason lie in the
belief that Armenia cannot spoil relations with Georgia as the latter
is the only land road leading to the outer world? It actually turns
out that Georgian Government pampers Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC),
believing that Armenians have nowhere to go. This position is dangerous
and apparently leads to a deadlock. May it be so that Georgia follows
Azerbaijan’s example, where misappropriation and demolition of Armenian
monuments has become a norm? Everything is possible.

Meanwhile the newspaper "Caucasus" of 1850 reports about
consecration of the foundation of a newly reconstructed church
in the Armenian cemetery. Here the original text follows: "On
July 8 at 8:00 a.m. in the Armenian cemetery near the Moscow
post, foundation of a new Armenian church was laid. It is said
to be called after St. Peter. Titular Councellor David Tamamshev,
initiator of this praiseworthy work, began the construction at his own
expense. Honorable and dishonorable figures of the City of Tiflis all
witnessed the ceremony. The Thanksgiving Service was paid by local
Diocesan Archbishop Karapet, Archbishop Minas and other Armenian
priests. Uttering a payer, His Grace washed the church stones and
blessed all the four sides of the foundation. Afterwards, the chorus
of priests performed a holy chant, while the stones were anointed
crosswise. Veneration with which His Grace performed all this ceremony
touched everyone present; at least I was deeply moved. Then, taking
the pick, he dug 4 holes on each side of the foundation, putting
there those stones wrapped into a cloth, which were dedicated to
each Evangelist…".

We do not know what family ties David Tamamshev had with the married
couple buried in the churchyard of Norashen. But one thing is definite:
God treats everyone in accordance with their actions, and Father Tariel
will receive what he deserves. And lastly, here is the opinion of a
true Georgian, Tbilisi resident Gel Vasadze, who is not indifferent
towards what is going on in his country. "Norashen should be given to
the Gregorian Church and it should be given by the State, which is
the guarantor of rights and freedom of all the citizens of Georgia,
irrespective of their nationality and religion. It should be handed
over no matter who it was built by – Armenians or Georgians. Why
should it matter? What matters now is that this step is necessary for
us, ethnic Georgians because the future of our country lies in the
diversity that now exists in Georgia, in Tbilisi, and in the Georgian
market. By taking this step we would be able to conquer ourselves,
we would be able to overcome our complexes. The other day, when I
was in Tbilisi, I met Uncle Volodya (Vasadze’s neighbour). He was
too weakened because of his age. And I am heartily looking forward
to the day when Norashen will again be functioning as a church and
I will look into my old neighbour’s eyes and admire the look in them".

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