In 2023 the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) celebrates Easter on April 9, while the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates it a week later on April 16. However, "Armenian" Easter was also celebrated in those churches in Northern Armenia which were originally Georgian and are now assigned to the AAC (including the churches of Akhtala and Tezharuyka. Other Georgian churches and monasteries in the region, including Kobiri, Khujabi, Khnevanki, Kirantsi, Svregi and a number of others are still in ruins and, alas, there will still be no festive Easter service this year.

This situation makes us think once again that the question of the Georgian shrines in the north of the Republic of Armenia, raised by the Georgian Patriarchate long ago, has not yet been solved and its resolution is intentionally hampered by the Armenian side. These churches built by Georgians are still attributed to some "Armenians-Chalcedonians" with absolutely no grounds. Georgian historical figures, who built these churches and were buried there, are also counted as "Armenians".

The Akhtala and Kobayr monastery monasteries, with washed-out frescoes and damaged and dilapidated walls in northern Armenia, are the oldest Georgian architectural monuments in the historical territory of Lore, whose ownership remains a matter of dispute between Georgia and Armenia to this day.

Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II tried to reach an agreement on the monuments of Lore during his official visit to Georgia on June 10-15, 2011 and even invited the Armenian side to sign a communiqué, in the text of which it was noted that "inter-church relations between Georgia and Armenia are moving to a new stage, That will determine the equal legal status of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Armenia, as well as contribute to the opening on a parity basis of the Armenian (Gregorian) Church in Georgia to the Georgian (Diophysite) Church in Armenia. A bilateral inter-church commission should be established to resolve these issues".

 The Armenian side initially agreed to sign a communiqué, but then refused and the issue of the disputed monasteries located on this territory, which became a cause of the Georgian-Armenian war in the last century, remains open again.

At the initiative of the non-governmental organisation Multinational Georgia, a Georgian delegation, including representatives of the Patriarchate, the media, historians and experts, travelled to Lore.

The chairman of Multinational Georgia, Arnold Stepanyan, noted that "the aim of the expedition was to overcome the temporary difficulties characteristic of relations between the Georgian and Armenian churches".

"It is necessary to objectively show the Georgian public the state of the Orthodox Churches in Armenia and vice versa, to inform the Armenian society about the Armenian monasteries in Georgia. The existing problem between the Georgian and Armenian Churches causes various interethnic complications, which is a serious threat for the development of the whole region," Stepanyan stated.

Upon our arrival in Northern Armenia, we first visited the ancient, relatively well-preserved Akhtala monastery complex, with its fenced-off Temple and tower. Giorgi Gagoshidze considers the Akhtali monastery complex a typical monument of Georgian architecture of the XIII century, which is architecturally similar to the Kvatahevi monastery.

"Kvatakhevi monastery was built at the beginning of XIII century with the support of Queen Tamara and a high-ranking official of the Georgian royal court Ivan Mkhargdzeli. In the XIV century, Akhtala became the seat of the Metropolitan See. After the invasion of Omar Khan at the end of the XVII century, King Irakli II settled the Greeks in this land, rich in silver and copper, in order to restore the mining industry. Architecturally, this monastery is a monument of Georgian architecture with its frescoes (St. Nino, St. John Zedazneli, Shio Mghvimeli and Evagrii, St. Evtvimi and St. George of Mtatsminda, St. Hilarion of Georgia), its Georgian chantry inscriptions and burial monuments of Georgian princes" - says Gagoshidze.

The Akhtala monastery complex is relatively well preserved, despite the fact that most of the wall frescoes have been washed away. The fresco of the Virgin Mary above the altar has been particularly damaged.

Vazgen Kirakosyan, a Gregorian priest serving in Akhtala, refused to talk about transferring the monastery to Georgia and giving it the status of a legal person of public law, stating "this issue must be settled by the states of Georgia and Armenia and the Church of these two countries.

"Any statement by me is just my personal opinion and not the position of the state. There are special organizations, which are competent to answer such questions," Kirakosyan said, and told us a radically opposite story of the creation of the Akhtala monastery complex, linking the construction of the monastery with the "Khalkedon Armenians.

"The representative of the Armenian Bagratuni dynasty, son of Ashot III Gurgen built a church in the 10th century, and his great granddaughter Mariam founded the Holy Virgin Monastery in the 12th century, which has repeatedly become the property of different nations, but with the grace of God all the same here managed to maintain the Armenian Church," - said V. Kirakosyan.

As for the frescoes, Georgian inscriptions and Georgian burials in the monastery, the Gregorian priest interprets 'these frescoes are influenced by the Byzantine school and are found in large numbers in various countries, including Georgia and Armenia'.

"Not Georgian princes Melikishvili and Baratashvili, but noble Armenians - Melikians and Baratovs are buried in Akhtala monastery. They held quite a high position in Georgia, and in order to strengthen their position in Georgia they changed their surnames to Georgian. After their death, as Armenia was weakened and did not have adequate financial resources, the funeral of Melikyan and Baratovs was organized by the Georgian side in the church, which at that time belonged to them," said Kirakosyan.

According to him, for already two years the Gregorian liturgy has been held in Akhtala, and every Friday the Divine Liturgy is celebrated.

After visiting Akhtala monastery, we went to another monument of Georgian culture, Kobayr monastery monastery, which is only accessible by a path, and even that path is in a poor condition, and the monastery is on the verge of collapse. A sign near the monastery tells visitors the "detailed history of the Armenian origin" of Kobayr monastery.

Historian Eldar Bubulashvili, however, says that Kobayr monastery monastery was founded in the middle of the 13th century by Shanshe Mkhargdzeli. It was at that time that construction was going on actively in Kobayr monastery. There are burials of members of Shanshe Mkhargzeli's family and other famous people. There are many Georgian kteti inscriptions in the monastery.

The Armenian side began conservation works in Kobayr monastery without coordinating it with the Georgian side and installed wooden and metal constructions to strengthen the walls, which caused anxiety of Georgian art historians and the Patriarchate of Georgia, according to which "Armenians began conservation works without even familiarizing them with the project.

Kote Svanadze, head of the Davitiani Movement of the Patriarchate of Georgia states that the work started in Kobayr monastery and the conduct of Gregorian liturgy in the Akhtala monastery is a direct violation of the agreement concluded between the Georgian and Armenian churches, according to which until all the circumstances are clarified in the disputed churches service should not be held.

"This agreement is being unilaterally violated by the Armenian side, which is of great concern to the Patriarchate of Georgia. In relation to the above-mentioned monasteries, the position of the Patriarchate is unchanged: the monasteries, which used to be the property of Georgia, must be returned to their historical heir. A commission must be established to determine how to return the churches to the Georgian and Armenian churches that belong to them. Willingness on this issue is confirmed by both sides. Currently we are negotiating the details, in particular how the commission will be staffed, its composition and when it will start working," - said Svanadze.

On intensifying the process of improving relations between the Georgian and Armenian churches, leader of Multinational Georgia Arnold Stepanyan says that Georgian and Armenian stakeholders, representatives of the authorities and the opposition, NGOs, clergy, political scientists and experts are informally exchanging views on contentious issues.

"We are talking more specifically with the Armenian side about the three monasteries on its territory (Hujabi, Kobayr monastery and Akhtala). A certain understanding has been reached with the Armenian side regarding Khujabi and Akhtala. At the same time the negotiations with the Georgian side on the transfer and restoration of six Armenian churches to the Armenian side are continuing," Stepanyan claims.

Alaverdi Deputy Mayor Artur Karakyan does not consider himself competent to pass churches to this or that side and says "it is a matter for historians.

"I am not sufficiently familiar with this process, although I can say that the churches in Armenia will remain as they were before the restoration," Karakian said and noted that he is "convinced of the friendship between Georgians and Armenians.

Caucasus expert Mamuka Areshidze sees the best solution to the issue of disputed churches between Georgia and Armenia in establishing the ownership of monuments.

"The process, despite the controversies and called the exchange of religious monuments, is positive for the Georgian society. In addition to religious, these monuments also have a cultural status. Based on this I think it would be good if both sides identify the ownership of the monuments. Accordingly, restoration of Georgian monuments on the territory of Armenia should be done by Georgian restorers and vice versa, Armenian restorers on the territory of Georgia. These monuments must remain as they were, but it must be recognised that these are Armenian monuments on Georgian territory, which are taken care of by the state, not as it is happening now. It is also necessary to designate Georgian cultural monuments on Armenian territory, which should be taken care of by Armenian authorities together with Georgian specialists. This is the best way out, otherwise this issue may remain the subject of endless discussions. A lot of time will be wasted and the issue will not get off the ground," M. Areshidze said and reminded those present about the precedent of disputed monuments between Georgia and Turkey.

"With regard to controversial monuments, Patriarchate, Government and Monument Protection have different positions. According to Areshidze, the only positive thing is that Oshki is included in the list of 100 monuments of world culture that require special attention and the adopted document obliges Turkey to take care of these monuments.

P.S. A group of Armenian musicians from America were rehearsing in the yard of the Akhtala Monastery. They were shooting a charity video, after which they intend to lead a music tour around the world, including Georgia. With the proceeds from the concerts, the musicians are planning to help the monasteries in need of restoration.

Natia Rukhadze

Pirveli Info Agency