Armenian expert concerned over Armenian cultural monuments in Georgia

Armenian cultural and architectural monuments are completely neglected in Georgia, Samvel Karapetyan, an expert in monuments, told journalists on Wednesday as he presented a new brochure, which is part of the series ‘Feature stories on Armenian architecture’.

The brochure deals with the Surb Nshan Surb Nikoghayos (Saint Sign Saint Nicolas) church in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

“Now rain now fire. I wonder how it happens that it is only Armenian monuments that are ruined by rains,” Karapetyan said.

One winter night in 2003, residents of a village residing not far from the Ananuri monastery heard a bursting. In the morning they saw the monastery had been destroyed.

Torrential rains this May destroyed the façade of Surb Nshan Surb Nikoghayos church in Tbilisi.

Earlier, in 2002, a fire broke out inside the church because of a “Russian vagrant’s” carelessness. Nine fire brigades could hardly put out the fire.

Full of refuse and a resting place for stray dogs and tramps, the church received the status of cultural monument in 2007 and is now among the six churches the Georgian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church is demanding to be returned as Armenian churches.

“The façade cannot be restored now, and a new one has to be built using old designs and photos. I do not know if they will do that. In any case we will know what to do if it has been returned,” Karapetyan said.

This policy toward Armenian monuments has consistently been pursued. Karapetyan cited a record whose author wrote, “I do not say that you must destroy Georgian churches as well. But if you are against religion, why are you destroying Armenian churches?”