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The massacre of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage in Georgia continues in the spirit of the ultra- nationalist Gamsakhurdia

In Christian Georgia today, in the Kakheti region famous for its mild climate and good wine, unique Armenian Khatshkars are being destroyed. A Georgian monk does not hide his intentions of destroying the stone with the Armenian inscriptions on of the churches of the century old Armenian ecclesiastical complex of Gremi, Kakheti, and states that the Armenian Church in the complex will be renovated according to Georgian faith. Regrettably, many Georgian priests mistakenly confound ultra-nationalism and vandalism with patriotism.

Our photographer was looking in vain for three unique Khatshkars of the 14 th century on the façade of one of the Churches inside the Gremi complex. And his face turned white, as he remembered how he had himself photographed the Khatshkars well in place some 12 years ago. Now they are gone, just like many other Armenian Khatshkars from the 12 th to the 17 th century, which were destroyed in the ecclesiastical complex of Gremi.

Today the complex is closed to the public. It is being "renovated". A Georgian monastery is located inside. The monks are busy with beekeeping and the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage.

It is saddening that while the "patriots" are destroying a unique Armenian cultural heritage, they do not realise that they are at the same time annihilating their own history and, moreover, an all-Christian heritage which reaches far beyond the realm of national importance.

Gremi, the former capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti is located on the left bank of the river Alazan. It became the capital of Kakheti in the year 1466. Armenians played an important role in the development of the town, as the business and trades were in their hands. The town blossomed and developed further until the onset of the 17 th century, before the devastating Persian invasions in 1614-1616 led by Sheikh Abasa. Many historical documents still tell of this era and the Armenian presence in Gremi, as cited by the historian Arakel Davrijetsi, and witness accounts collected by the Russian Embassy in the year 1640.

Armenian Diocese in Georgia

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