CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 32

MANE BABAJANYAN
The academic literature lacks sources that address the problems of
the Armenians of Tbilisi. Only Mkrtchyan (2009) emphasizes that the
number of Armenians in Tbilisi has significantly decreased, and they are
no longer the biggest ethnic minority there. She identifies several issues
related to Tbilisi’s Armenian community: the “isolation” and lack of
organizational coordination in the communal life; “loss of traces of the
Armenian impact on Tbilisi” that, basically, refers to the problem of
preservation of the Armenian history of Tbilisi (buildings, documents,
private archives); and the situation of Armenian schools which are
gradually becoming less popular among the Armenians. 56
The Problem of Cultural Heritage
The Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia was
established in the 5 th century AD but gained legal status only in 2012. It
has always played an important role in the religious and cultural life of
the Armenian community. 57 But there is a significant contention between
the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox churches concerning the
ownership of seven disputable churches (one in Akhaltsikhe and six
others in Tbilisi). 58 Several Armenian churches in Georgia do not belong
to the Armenian community anymore and are owned by the Georgian
authorities. 59 The Armenian Diocese demands the return of these six
churches, two of which (Norashen and St. Nshan) the Georgian Orthodox
Church intends to appropriate. 60 In its turn, the Georgian Orthodox
Church demands five other churches (Khuchap, Hnevanq, Kobair,
Akhtala, and Kirants) located in the territory of Armenia, near the
Georgian border. The Armenian side denies these claims emphasizing the
Armenian origins of those churches. 61

56
Mkrtchyan, “Krtutyany ew Gitutyan xndirnery”, 566-572.
“Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia”,
https://armenianchurch.ge/hy/component/content/article/654-the-diocese-of-the-armenian-
apostolic-church-in-georgia.
58 Tatul Hakobyan, “Vicheli Yekeghetsiner: Khuchap, Hnevanq, Qobair, Akhtala, Kirants
[The Disputable Churches: Khuchap, Hnevanq, Qobair, Akhtala, Kirants]”. Civilnet,
August 28, 2017, www.civilnet.am/news/2017/08/28/Վիճելի-եկեղեցիներ-Խուճապ-
Հնեվանք-Քոբայր-Ախթալա-Կիրանց/320349 (accessed October 5, 2019).  
59 Karapetyan, “Hay-Vratsakan Hamaynqy”, 40.
60 Vazgen Mirzakhanyan Right Rev. Bishop et al. “Hay-Araqelakan Surb Yekeghetsu
Virahayots Temy [The Diocese of Armenian Church in Georgia]” in Razmavarakan
Anvtangayin Hetazotutyunner. Yerevan, HH Pashtpanutyan Nakhararutyan D. Kanayani
Anvan Azgayin Razmavarakan Hetazotutyunneri Institut (2008), 573-580.
61 Hakobyan, “Vicheli Yekeghetsiner”.
57
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