Armenia and Georgia to Strengthen its Religious Ties

OCP News Service – 23/07/2023

Yerevan-Armenia: H.H. Karekin the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received Zaza Vashakmadze, the head of the State Agency for Religious Affairs of Georgia, accompanied by Vardan Astsatryan, the head of the Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs of the RA Government Office, at the Holy Etchmiadzin Mother See on July 18, 2023.

According to Catholicate:

The meeting was attended by the Director of the Department of Foreign Relations and Protocol of the Mother See, T. Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia Giorgi Sharvashidze.

His Eminence highlighted the importance of such mutual visits between the two countries, which contribute to the further strengthening and development of Armenian-Georgian friendly ties. His Holiness conveyed his appreciation to the Georgian authorities for the support shown to Armenia in the difficult situation, as well as for the mediating efforts for the return of the Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

In his turn, the chairman of the State Agency for Religious Affairs of Georgia conveyed detailed information to the Patriarch of All Armenians about the religious landscape in the country and the state policy towards religious organizations and traditional churches. In his speech, Tiar Zaza Vashakmadze also referred to the cooperation formed with the Armenian Diocese of Vir.

During the conversation, issues related to the preservation of spiritual heritage in Georgia, relations between the Armenian and Georgian Churches, and further strengthening of Armenian-Georgian ties were discussed. The Catholicos of All Armenians also conveyed his fraternal greetings and best wishes to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.

Source:
OCP News Services