Protest against Georgian authorities and Georgian church kicked off in Yerevan
Demonstrators in Yerevan have started a protest against Georgian authorities' failure to take actions towards preservation of Armenian monasteries in Tbilisi. Over 500 people have gathered in front of Georgian Embassy to Armenia to hand to Ambassador Targamadze a letter on barbarism against Armenian churches. Demonstrators are holding placards reading "No to Cultural Genocide", "Georgians are not Christians". A PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reports that protesters intend to head towards UN House in Yerevan, to raise international community's awareness of situation with religious freedom in Georgia.
According to AAC Georgian Eparchy representative Mkhitar Aloyan, Georgian authorities constantly degrade and insult Armenian clergymen and believers. "When we go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, the custom service actually searches us, whereas Georgians get out-of-turn permission. They are not Christians, because a Christian cannot destroy a church. Our protest is not directed against Georgian people; we are protesting against official Tbilisi," Aloyan said.
Last Friday, Surb Gevorg Armenian church (dating from 1356) was demolished in Georgia. Armenian Apostolic Church accused Georgian authorities of indifference to Armenian sacred places.
According to AAC Georgian Eparchy representative Mkhitar Aloyan, Georgian authorities constantly degrade and insult Armenian clergymen and believers. "When we go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, the custom service actually searches us, whereas Georgians get out-of-turn permission. They are not Christians, because a Christian cannot destroy a church. Our protest is not directed against Georgian people; we are protesting against official Tbilisi," Aloyan said.
Last Friday, Surb Gevorg Armenian church (dating from 1356) was demolished in Georgia. Armenian Apostolic Church accused Georgian authorities of indifference to Armenian sacred places.
