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

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.