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YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: The fates of many Armenian churches situated in the territory of Georgia have become a matter of concern for world wide Armenians and the main topic of discussion in Armenian-Georgian relations. Armenpress news agency spoke with the deputy culture minister Arev Samuelyan about the issues connected with the Armenian churches in Tbilisi.
- The most important project on the restoration of the Armenian churches in the capital of Georgia is the Mughni’s St. Gevorg Church. How did it happen that the church appeared on the edge of collision?
- In midst of November of 2009 as a result of heavy precipitations St. Gevorg Church bowed and stones of the church fell down on the roofs of irregularly built houses near the holy place becoming the reason of their damage. Luckily, people were not inside and no one suffered. From the very next day Armenia and Georgia started dialogue and an agreement has been reached according to which Georgia assumes the full reconstruction of the church. As a result of studies of reasons of the collision it was found out that in five-meter depth there are springs of water which being fed by the heavy precipitations created a lake underground which on its turn brought to a collision.
- What historic past Mughni’s St. Gevorg church has and in what phase are the restoration works?
- St. Gevorg church was built in the first half of the 13th century and presents a huge historic-cultural value not only for Armenians but for Georgian people as well because it is one of symbols of Tbilisi. In this period it was renovated twice but during the soviet years it was turned into a store like many other churches.
Currently the renovation works are in the initial phase. During the cleaning works that launched from June of the past year, archeological layers and Christian establishments were found that were not fully taken up and studied. That is why the reconstruction works have been postponed. Now the Georgian side is trying to find additional financial means to bring to an end the studies of the neighboring territory.
- Has the Armenian side presented any suggestions or remarks during this period?
- The draft project that was presented to the Armenian experts underwent certain changes and in the already changed variant was adopted January 20 2011. One of the main presented demands was the demounting of the neighboring houses and re-settlement of the people but this issue must be solved not through an agreement between the ministries but by the Tbilisi City Hall.
- Are there other Armenian churches in Georgia that are under the limelight of the Armenian Ministry of Culture?
- The expenditures intended for the projecting works of Tbilisi’s St. Nshan church have been approved by the 2011 Georgian state budget. So this year the draft projecting of the St. Nshan church will be implemented. Norashen is also under our limelight though the situation here is not so clear.
It is very important to draw the attention of Armenian philanthropists and businessmen on this issue as the Armenian side cannot always present demands and abstain from the financing.