Georgian Patriarch-Catholicos’ Illness Just Pretext for Delaying Karekin II’s Georgia Visit

The reason for postponing the visit of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to Georgia this month is not the poor health of All Georgian Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II, said head of the council of public education of Armenians in Tbilisi David Manusajev to Azatutyun Radio (RFE/RL Armenia branch). 

According to him, the visit is postponed on the background of the dispute on the official status of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.

“His (i.e. Ilia II) illness, of course, is diplomatic in nature. Really, Ilia II has been ill for a long time. However, it’s not possible to constantly postpone this visit, citing his illness. It’s obvious for any representative of any international organization, certain problems exist. More so, there are numerous consultancy reports, State Department statements. They can’t ignore all this, and attempt to replace solutions by pointing out illnesses,” he said.

Manusajev added, there’s another issue between the two churches: “Georgia has claims on Chalcedonian churches in Armenia. Those churches are not operational and are in a semi-dilapidated state. The Georgian church, however, doesn’t demand that they be recognized as Chalcedonian: they want to become the owners of those churches.”