Norashen Armenian Church in Tbilisi
1. The fragment of interview with father Tariel where he says that permission of construction works around Norashen is given to him by the city hall of Tbilisi
2. Georgian ombudsman Sozar Subari's statement affirming that Georgian authorities do nothing to implement international recommendations in the sphere of ethnic minorities rights protection
3. Documentary shots showing that construction works around Norashen are still in progress
Defending the Armenian Church & Religious Freedoms in the Georgian Republic
Nov. 24, 2009 - Armenian students & activists gathered in Central Yerevan, Armenias Republic Square and marched toward the Georgian Embassy in protest of the Georgian Govt.s intentional neglect of the numerous ancient Armenian Churches within its borders, as well as its restriction against officially registering the Armenian Apostolic Church as an active diocese in today's Georgian State where several hundred-thousand Armenians reside.
The demonstration against the Georgian Govt.s policy was an active and outspoken response to the recent collapse of a wall of the ancient Mughni Surp Gevorg Armenian Apostolic Church, on Nov. 19, 2009 in Tbilisi, Georgia illustrating the tragic consequences of such policies of discrimination & religious intolerance.
The damage and collapse caused by the lack of maintenance and upkeep was to such a degree that nearby buildings were also damaged within the Sololaki District of the Georgian Capital (The Georgian Times). Surp Gevorg Church remains closed due to its critically deteriorating condition, and unfortunately, is not the only Armenian Church suffering from such circumstances in Georgia.
The ancient Armenian Surb Norashen Church, also located in Tbilisi, Georgia, dates back to 1467 A.D. and was closed off from any religious activities in the 1930s by the then Communist Govt., and instead, was used as a book depository much like many other religious sites at the time.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly Independent State of Georgia purposely neglected returning the Armenian church to the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese in Tbilisi - gating off the church, destroying ancient Armenian tomb stones, and boarding up the church instead.
Chairman of the Armenian Center of Cooperation in Georgia, Karen Elchyan, has categorized this process as Georgian-ization, where the government has intentionally isolated & boarded up Surp Norashen Church; restricting public access, encircling it with concrete walls displaying Georgian Crosses, and initiating a campaign to annex Norashen to the neighboring Georgian Orthodox Church, claiming it as one of its own.
A U.S. State Department's Global Report in November 2005, describing the state of religious freedom in the Georgian Republic, declared:
Many problems among traditional religious groups stem from property disputes. The Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches have been unable to secure the return of their churches and other facilities that were closed during the Soviet period, many of which later were given to the Georgian Orthodox Church by the [Georgian] State...
...the prominent Armenian church in Tbilisi, Norashen, remains closed, as do four other smaller Armenian churches in Tbilisi and one in [the region of] Akhaltsikhe.
Among the 29 Armenian Churches functioning in Tbilisi in the beginning of the 20th-Century, only 1 remains active. Many analysts and members of the Armenian Community in Georgia view this as an attempt to completely assimilate or drive out what remains of this centuries old ethnic-Armenian population.
What is needed now is decisive action within the Armenian Diaspora today by petitioning their influential community leaders, such as the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), Homenetmen Youth Organizations & Armenian Student groups, who are active within the Armenian-American Community, as well as other communities, so as to lobby their respective governments for support.
Our worldwide Armenian network not only has the access but also the resources and potential determination to rally their respective host countries toward pressuring the Georgian Govt. to not only protect and rehabilitate centuries old Armenian Churches, but to also register the Armenian Apostolic Church, and other active religious groups, as legal religious entities within todays Georgian Republic.
The several hundred thousand strong Armenian Community in Georgia deserves the same rights of religious and ethnic tolerance as their brethren enjoy elsewhere, lets not take our rights and good fortune for granted.
Join us in reversing the Georgian Government's campaign by signing the following petition urging the Armenian Apostolic Church, ANCA, AAA, and other influential organizations within the Armenian Diaspora to lobby their respective governments to mobilize and take action in defense of our ethnic and religious heritage:
Footage, text and publishing provided by the Armenian-American Students & Activists United.
Visit us for more information about this and relating issues at:
President of Georgia visited Armenian Church in Tbilisi
President visited Armenian Church in Tbilisi
06.01.11
Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili visited Armenian Church in Tbilisi today to congratulate the worshipers on Christmas and Holy Epiphany according to Armenian Church Calendar.
President attended holy liturgy at the Echmiadzin Church in Avlabari district and addressed the worshippers. President spoke about historic friendship of Georgian and Armenian nations and emphasized the role of Armenia in the history of Georgia.
`We appreciate the activities of you Bishop Vazgen in the spiritual support to our citizens as well as His role in the enhancement of Georgia-Armenia relationship. Rarely the nations have such history of friendship, support and co-existence as our two nations during the centuries. This relationship is not only based on our past, but it is topical at present and so it will be in the future,` president said.
საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი სომხურ მართლმადიდებელ სამოციქულო ეკლესიას ესტუმრა
მიხეილ სააკაშვილმა საქართველოში მცხოვრებ ეთნიკურ სომხებს შობის დღესასწაული მიულოცა
Georgian INtolerance toward Armenians - Norashen (Норашен) Church
destruction of Armenian graves in Tbilisi-Armenian Church Norashen
В воскресный день 16 ноября, когда цивилизованный мир, 13 год подряд отмечает Международный день, посвящённый терпимости International Day for Tolerance, армянская община столицы Грузии очередной раз столкнулась с жестокой реальностью нетерпимого к себе отношения.
Около часа дня, прихожанам армянской кафедральной церкви Сурб Геворг стало известно об очередном посягательстве на другую, уже всем печально известную «законсервированную» армянскую церковь Норашен во имя Св. Богородицы, расположенную по-соседству, на улице Леселидзе.
Представители армянской общественности города стали свидетелями акта вандализма осквернения двух могил известных армян меценатов города Тбилиси, представителей семьи Тамамшевых (Тамамшян) Михаила Ивановича и Лидии Петровны, похороненых более ста лет назад у стен церкви Норашен. Как И в предыдущих случаях, «работу» возглавил представитель грузинской патриархии отец Тариел Сикинчелашвили, который, по его же словам, «отодвинул» экскаватором камни с целью «почистить землю под надгробными камнями и вокруг них» (!) в рамках его личной програмы по благоустройству территории прилегающей к армянской церкви.
Представителями Армянского Центра Сотрудничества Грузии на место происшествия были вызваны работники аппарата омбудсмена и патруль. Последним пришлось долго разъяснять ситуацию, объяснять причины их беспокойства, писать объяснительную и чуть ли не извиняться за «ложный» вызов. Тем не менее под напором подоспевших к Норашену горожан армянской национальности, количество которых доходило до 50 человек, отец Тариел с группой работников-соучастников был вынужден положить надгробные камни на место. Параллельно, представители Епархии Армянской Апостольской Церкви в Грузии вели переговоры с грузинской патриархией.
David Mzikyan. Armenian Genocide 99-th Commemoration in Tbilisi, Georgia.
David Mzikyan. Armenian Genocide 99-th Commemoration in Tbilisi, Georgia. 2014 24 April.
Georgianization of Armenian Church in Tbilisi, Georgia
We will not allow Georgians to convert the Armenian church into Georgian destroying Armenian crosses and other marks of Armenian identity
Among 29 Armenian churches functioning in Tbilisi in the beginning of 20th century, now only one is active
Sign here, please
petitiononline.com/v923/petition.ht ml
Thank you...
YerkirMedia TV about Armenian St. Norashen church destruction
YerkirMedia TV program about Armenian St. Norashen church destruction in Tbilisi. Georgians are building a church around the Armenian church St. Norashen in Tbilisi, crashing Armenian cemetery and in future aiming to convert it into Georgian Orthodox church.
Armenian Church in Tbilisi, Georgia
Armenian Church in Tbilisi, Georgia
ChurchՆորաշեն, 'Norashen' / ნორაშენი, ღვთიმშობლის სომხური ეკლესია თბილისი
To the right of Jvaris-Mama there is an Armenian church Norashen. Norashen means newly built in Armenian. The church was founded by Sadat in 1467. In 1650 Khoja Nazar rebuilt nearly demolished church, the cupola of which was created by the master Petros. Further on the church was repeatedly restored in 1795, 1808 and 1875. The interior of the church was decorated with frescoes by Ovnatan Ovnatanian, who was a court artist of Erekle the Second. In Soviet times the church was converted into a library. In the western part of the church there is an untouched tomb-stone on the grave of the merchant and patron of art Tamamshev and his wife. The names of this branchy merchant's clan are often met in Tbilisi toponymy (place-name study). Nowadays the church is not functioning.Նորաշեն
Kote Abkhazi (Leselidze) street (Tbilisi, Georgia) / კოტე აბხაზი ( ლესელიძე, თბილისი )
From Gorgasali Square we can go up along Kote Abkhazi street (former Leselidze street). In the middle ages the street called Shuabazari what in the transfer indicates middle Bazar divided the city into the upper and the lower blocks. There was no official market there,but this part of the city was always overcrowded. It was a nonofficial centre of trade. In the 19th century the street was named Armenian bazar. After World War II the street was renamed in honor of the Hero of the Soviet Union, General Constan-tine Leselidze. In 2007 the street was again renamed in honor of one of the leaders of National-liberation movement (1921-1923), a Georgian political, public and military worker, a general Kote Abkhazi. The street several times was reconstructed, pavements were enlarged. One can observe here peaceful neighbourhood of Jewish synagogue, Georgian Orthodox Temple - Jvaris-Mama and Armenian church - Norashen.
Comments on the condition of Armenian churches in Tbilisi
This is a part of multimedia story for on-line journalism class.
You can find the full story here-
or watch the whole film here-
Made by Lilit Nurijanyan
Albert Bazian
Gipa 2012
St Nshan - Armenian Church in Tbilisi
Kukia_December_2011.mp4
short documentary about Kukia, district in Tbilisi
Church Jvaris-Mama (Tbilisi, Georgia) / თბილისის ჯვარის მამის ეკლესია
Jvaris-Mama - this name comes from a Georgian church in Jerusalem. On this very place there was a small temple in the 5th century which was destroyed by Mongols' invasion. The church was restored in the 16th century. During Aga-Mohamed-Khan conquest it was repeatedly demolished. Then it was renewed in 1825. Reconstruction works are now going on.
Norashen vandalism in armenian blogs
Reaction of armenian blogging community to vandalism in st. Norashen church in Tbilisi, Georgia. Aired on Yerkir Media, December 2 2008
Tbilisi, 03.01.19. Th, Norashen, Mantashyan sharker, Parajanov.
Live streets view, Yerevan, January 03, Khandziteli, Apkhazi, Shardeni.
Khndrank: nayeluts heto, ampayman sekhmek ????, kam ????.
Pt 2 of 4 USSR Russia Leningrad Tbilisi Baku Moscow 1986
In 1986, myself and friend Randy Pardue took a journey to the U.S.S.R. We chose four cities and the Soviet Tourist Agency took care of our transportation, hotel, meals and a one hour tour of each city. Other than that we were able to be on our own.
Gorbachev was just starting to open the door. Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan were meeting while we were there. We were one of the test cases of tourist who were not totally controlled by a guide and the USSR.
Eventhough we were watched 'secretly', we were able to have some unique private experiences and met wonderful people.
In 1986 there were hardly any shops. Most the cars were low quality. Hardly anyone owned a car. The people were very nervous in the southern areas due to a more strict KGB. Only Moscow was 'modern' but represented more as a propaganda city.
We saw long lines of people trying to enter a shoe shop. The shoes were all basically the same and hard and uncomfortable in design. Waiting in line was the norm for food or clothing.
By age 18 you had a job. The nation propagandaly boasted 100% employment. One job we saw was an elderly lady with a bush attached to a stick. Her job was to walked the streets and sweep the dirt. The young people had failure in their eyes with their forced lifetime employment.
But all in all, they were people like us. Where we had plenty, they had little, but they wanted our plenty. The sad change I have seen with the fall of the Soviet Union is that the people were suddenly onslaughted with the destructive 'stuff' of our culture.
This video is a simple presentation shown at city group meetings who requested our experience in the U.S.S.R. Then we would have a question answer time.
I guess I caught the Russian flu in Moscow. Randy was in med-school and as my doctor, he voted for me to not take the funny pills I was given. Instead, staying outside in the chilling cold kept my fever down.
A very good trip with a very good friend.
_____
'Chreli abano' - Motley sulphur bath (Abanotubani,)/ ჭრელი აბანო, აბანოთუბანი
Tbilisi has long been famous for the natural pipinghot sulphur water that bubbles out of the ground along the banks of the Mtkvari River. The oldest bath is the Erekle's Bath. Orbeliani (blue) bath with an arrowlike facade and minarets on its side is distinguished from the baths located on Abano (bath) street. It is also called Chreli abano (motley bath), as it got its name because of the motley tiles covered the portal. It was redecorated in the eastern manner in the second half of the 19th century. The plaque to the left of them reveals the thoughts of Great Russian writer Alexander Pushkin: I have never in my life come across anything better than baths in Tiflis. A great sense of freedom and wellbeing permeated me. All my tiredness had gone and I felt strong enough to lift a mountain - Alexandre Dumas, after a visit to the sulphur baths in 1858. A hundred years later Russian writer Alexey Tolstoy said, that when sitting in a marble swimming pool a man feels like either Pompey or Lucullus. All the baths are below the ground level and are overlapped by semicircular domes and are naturally lit via a glass lantern over the cupola. In ancient times people could have a bath whenever they liked and could stay in the bath till dawn. The citizens used to spend their leisure time, gave formal dinner parties and went on the spree in the baths. Women were allowed only on special days. Town matchmakers often arranged brideshows there. Fed by naturally hot mineral waters, the sulphur baths have been an essential part of Tbilisi life for centuries. Why not come and try it for yourself?
GDS დილა - ჯვრის მონასტერი, თაკო ხელაიას სიუჟეტი
Неблагодатный огонь в Тбилиси
Корреспондент GeorgiaTimes побывал в армянской церкви Сурб Ншан в Тбилиси, которая оказалась разрушена в результате пожара.
На днях в грузинской столице произошла трагедия — сгорел древний
армянский монастырь Сурб Ншан. Местные жители наблюдали
тление внутри здания ещё со второго января — и всем было ясно, что
это совсем не благодатный огонь . Пожарные, работавшие на
месте происшествия почти неделю, действовали, мягко говоря,
непрофессионально — их усилиями была обрушена вся северо-восточная сторона здания. Так что о реставрации святилища речи
пока не идет — рабочим надо ликвидировать последствия
энтузиазма огнеборцев.
Что касается причин пожара, то к нему привела обыкновенная
халатность.
К сожалению, только чрезвычайная ситуация привлекла внимание властей к проблемам монастыря, давно нуждающегося в реставрации.
Отношения между армянским и грузинским духовенством последние годы
складываются трудно. Со стороны святого Эчмиадзина и различных
общественных организаций в адрес грузинской патриархии постоянно
звучат упреки в присвоении армянских церквей. Пожар в
монастыре Сурб Ншан только распалит конфликт. Хотя, может,
процесс его восстановления, наоборот, сплотит две соперничающие церкви?
Читайте также:
Армянская церковь в огне
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