Georgian president to Armenian patriarch: Armenian churches in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region must not be subordinate to Russia

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili raised the issue of Armenian churches in the Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia. Photo: President’s press office.

Agenda.ge, 15 Mar 2019 - 12:10, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has told Armenian Patriarch Karekin II in the town of Echmiadzin today that Armenian churches in the Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia should not be subordinated to the Southern Eparchy of Russia.

The fact [that the Armenian churches are now under the subordination of the Russian church in Abkhazia] is perceived as a violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity,” Zurabishvili said, and stated that the Armenian Church “must [address the situation] as soon as possible” and bring the church under the subordination of the Georgian Eparchy of the Armenian Church, as it was in previous years.

Zurabishvili said that Georgian Patriarch Ilia II is “very much concerned” by the issue.

Karekin II stated that “despite the temporary measure”, the Armenian government recognises that Armenian churches on the territory of Abkhazia are under the subordination of the Georgian Eparchy of the Armenian Church.