Russia Citizens Ask Armenian Catholicos to Pay Attention to Armenian Churches in Georgia

Citizens of Russia who are ethnic Armenians from the Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti have appealed to His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, ahead of his visit to Georgia.

The Russian newspaper Yerkramas published their appeal as follows:

“Your Holiness, your visit which was to have taken place in 2010, was thrice postponed. Different reasons were cited, including Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II’s health conditions.

“The situation has been controversial and even criticized by the Armenian community, where dominant was the view that the main problem between the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox churches is the need to return Armenian churches in Georgia to the Armenian Apostolic Church and the issue of not granting legal status to the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia.

“And so, once again, you, our beloved Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, have been invited to pay an official visit to Georgia, which is scheduled for June this year. In connection with this event, we, together with the Armenian community of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Georgia as a whole, express our immense joy.”

The letter also lists the Armenian churches in the region and their significance for Armenians and the Armenian Apostolic Church.