CATHEDRAL OF SURB ECHMIADZIN CONDEMNED ATTEMPT OF DEFILEMENT OF GRAVES IN TBILISI

De Facto
Nov 20, 2008

YEREVAN, 20.11.08. DE FACTO. "This deed does not correspond
to centuries-old friendship between our two countries", Vahram
Melikian, spokesman for the Holy See at Echmiadzin told a Panorama.am
correspondent.

To remind, the attempt of defilement of two graves of Mikhail and Lydia
Tamamshian, renowned Armenians, patrons of Tbilisi, representatives
of Tamamshev (Tamamshian) family, was made in Tbilisi on November
16. The act of defilement was made under the guidance of father Tariel
Sikinchelashvili, a representative of the Georgian Patriarchy, who
made the attempt, in his words, "within the frames of his private
program on improvement of the territory adjoining the Armenian church".

According to Vahram Melikian, Armenia Eparchy in Georgia does not have
a definite status there, as the law "On Consciousness and Religion"
has not been adopted there. "If the law is adopted, the status of
the Eparchy will be consolidated, and it will be able to dictate its
actions", Vahram Melikian said.