Armenia, Georgia Patriarchs Did Not Agree on Status of Churches

A joint communique between the Georgian and Armenian churches weren’t signed. As stated by head of the foreign relations department of the Patriarchate of Georgia, work and comparing positions in this area is still ongoing.

At the same time, the Patriarchate of Georgia spokesperson denied reports that the Armenian party refused to sign a communique.

It was expected that a joint communique would be signed during the visit of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to Georgia. Earlier, the contents of the draft communique had been circulated.

The document stated: “Relations between us are developing more and more and entering a new phase, which implies equal legal status of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and the Georgian Orthodox Church in Armenia, as well as plans for the reopening of Armenian churches in Georgia and Georgian churches in Armenia.”

To address the aforementioned issues, it was expected that a bilateral inter-church committee would be established to ask the Georgian and Armenian authorities to facilitate the timely implementation of the communique, reports Georgia Online.