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Armenian Apostolic Church Expects Registration of Saint Echmiadzin and Saint Gevork Churches after Restoration

December 30, 2015
Natia Gogolashvili

There several ten acting churches including small chapels of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia. Before 1930s, the churches belonged to Armenian parish but afterwards the Communist government seized them like from other confessions. Religious services were conducted only two churches in Tbilisi – Saint Echmiadzin and Saint Gevork Churches. 

Nowadays, only these two churches function in Tbilisi. Both of them have status of culture heritage.

Surb (saint) Gevork on Meidan Square is one of the ancient Armenian churches in Tbilisi, which was main church of Armenian community of the capital; now it is the Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia. Famous Armenian public figures, including Sayat Nova, were buried in its yard. 

Restoration of the Surb Gevork Church started three years ago. Nowadays, the restoration activities have almost finished. The church was significantly damaged: the northern and southern walls were cracked and roof collapsed. According to the information of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the church needed immediate restoration that was implemented in 2013-2015 with the initiative of the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church Eparchy in Georgia Episcope Vazgen 

Mirzakhanyan and famous businessman Ruben Vardanyan. Besides that, the foundation for the restoration of the Surb Gevork Church was founded, which received donations from many philanthropists. Their names were carved on the wall next to the gate. Before the commencement of the reconstruction, projects for the basement, walls, roof and dome were drafted. The Church was reconstructed, roof and walls were rehabilitated with close cooperation of Armenian and Georgian specialists. Specialized organization Mgvime (cave) Ltd conducted main reconstruction activities in the church. 

Head of the service for legal issues and cooperation of the Armenian eparchy Mikheil Avakyan said unique frescos of the Surb Gevork church were completely painted over during the communist regime; only small part of frescos were maintained. In 2013-2015, in parallel to the rehabilitation works, the Restoration Scientific-Research Center for Armenian Frescos and Italian Restorer cleaned the frescos of the church and examined them. Together with the reconstruction activities the restoration of the frescos also finished. 

Nowadays, one of the acting two churches in Tbilisi is located in Avlabari – Surb Echmiadzin Church; it was founded in 1805.“It is paradox that Armenian Apostolic Church neither owns nor uses any chapel; moreover, Surb Echmiadin is not registered in the Public Registration at all,” Mikheil Avakyan said.

“We cooperated with the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia. During the previous government we petitioned to the President and Prime Minister. Now we addressed to the State Agency of Religion. There are attempts to resolve problems and we hope soon we will have real results and the Church will be assigned to us,” Mikheil Avakyan said.

According to the Georgian eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, conditions of the Surb Echmiadzin Church were alarming, that created threat of sudden collapse. The situation worsened as a result of 2001 earthquake in Tbilisi.

As Mikheil Avakyan said, with the initiative of the leader of the Armenian Eparchy of Georgia Episcope Vazgen Mirzakhanyan in 2004 the plan for the reconstruction of the church was drafted. In 2006, with joint efforts of the Chief Cathedral of St. Echmiadzin, Foundation of all Armenian Hayastan and Armenians of Argentine, a new plan was prepared. The church was thoroughly reconstructed in 2006-2010. The Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia supervised the ongoing reconstruction activities. In 2011, when Catholicos-Patriarch of Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II visited Orthodox Patriarchate of Georgia, he blessed the restored church repeatedly.

After the rehabilitation works finished in the churches, the Armenian Apostolic Church of Georgia expects the State Agency of Religion to assign the Surb Gevork and Surb Echmiadzin churches to them.

The article was prepared in the frame of the project implemented with financial support of the Government of Canada. This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the donor. 

Human Rights Center bears sole responsibility for the content of the article.

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