Georgians, Armenians clash on religious grounds
Conditions have resulted in a religious controversy
between Georgians and Armenians, again increasing tensions between
the two South Caucasus republics.
The clash came after Georgians sought to move gravestones from the Armenian St. George church in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. In response, the Armenian community in the city claimed it again faced a dire manifestation of religious intolerance, the Panarmenian news agency reported.
According to the Armenian Cooperation Center, employees of the St. George cathedral learned on Sunday that vandalism had been allegedly committed against their Norashen church. It said the graves of well-known figures in Armenia, Tamamshian and Lidia Petrova, had been destroyed. They had been buried in the church`s courtyard 100 years ago.
Infuriated Armenians claimed this act of vandalism, as were others, was spearheaded by a representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church. A group, allegedly headed by Tariel Sikinchelashvili, had demolished the graves using excavators.
Outsiders also became involved in the Georgian-Armenian stand-off, with 50 Armenians calling on the cleric not to allow the destruction of the graves, the report said.
The leadership of the Armenian Apostle Church in Georgia has also become involved. "Father Tariel has long-standing experience in destroying Armenian graves," the church claimed in a statement. "In 2005, the gravestones from adjacent areas belonging to Georgians were brought to the Norashen church on his instruction."
Georgians and Armenians have long been in a struggle over the possession of worship sites. Armenians claim that, in addition to St. George, the Virgin Mary church in Georgia belongs to them, and a row over the issue was triggered back in May 2007. Further, Georgians` fencing off the church had drawn fire from Armenians. Tensions escalated so high that the issue was even discussed between the two countries` prime ministers, but neither side was willing to compromise on their claims. After the talks on a governmental level, construction work was merely stopped in the area and the fences around the shrine were removed.
The clash came after Georgians sought to move gravestones from the Armenian St. George church in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. In response, the Armenian community in the city claimed it again faced a dire manifestation of religious intolerance, the Panarmenian news agency reported.
According to the Armenian Cooperation Center, employees of the St. George cathedral learned on Sunday that vandalism had been allegedly committed against their Norashen church. It said the graves of well-known figures in Armenia, Tamamshian and Lidia Petrova, had been destroyed. They had been buried in the church`s courtyard 100 years ago.
Infuriated Armenians claimed this act of vandalism, as were others, was spearheaded by a representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church. A group, allegedly headed by Tariel Sikinchelashvili, had demolished the graves using excavators.
Outsiders also became involved in the Georgian-Armenian stand-off, with 50 Armenians calling on the cleric not to allow the destruction of the graves, the report said.
The leadership of the Armenian Apostle Church in Georgia has also become involved. "Father Tariel has long-standing experience in destroying Armenian graves," the church claimed in a statement. "In 2005, the gravestones from adjacent areas belonging to Georgians were brought to the Norashen church on his instruction."
Georgians and Armenians have long been in a struggle over the possession of worship sites. Armenians claim that, in addition to St. George, the Virgin Mary church in Georgia belongs to them, and a row over the issue was triggered back in May 2007. Further, Georgians` fencing off the church had drawn fire from Armenians. Tensions escalated so high that the issue was even discussed between the two countries` prime ministers, but neither side was willing to compromise on their claims. After the talks on a governmental level, construction work was merely stopped in the area and the fences around the shrine were removed.
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