Armenians of Georgia urge to stop barbarous destruction of Armenian cultural heritage

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian community of Georgia issued an open letter over destruction of Norashen Armenian church.



The letter says in part, "The Armenian community of Georgia urges to stop barbarous destruction of Armenian cultural heritage by the Georgian clergy. The regular attempt to seize Norashen is outraging. The altar and unique frescos are eliminated; grave are desecrated.



In May 2008, father Tariel Sikinchelashvili's ordered to isolate Norashen with a fence with symbols of the Georgian Orthodox Church.



The attempts to "georgify" Norashen started in 1989. The altar, whose form is peculiar to the Armenian Apostolic Church was demolished, wall paintings erased.



Presently, the status of Surb Norashen, Surb Nshan, Shamhoretsor Surb Astvatsatsin (Karmir Avetaran), Yerevanots Surb Minas and Mugni Surb Gevorg in Tbilisi and Surb Nshan in Akhaltsikh, confiscated during the soviet period, is still unknown. Owing to the absence of law on religion, Georgian clergy occupy the Armenian churches.



The Armenian community of Georgia urges to stop barbarous destruction of Armenian cultural heritage."