Georgian Pilgrims Make Their Way to “Renamed” Armenian Church in Akhaltskha
"Hetq" was informed yesterday that a group of Georgian clergymen visited the Saint Nshan Armenian Church in Akhaltskha. The church is one of a number of Armenian churches located in Georgia whose ownership is "questionable".
Father Manouk Zeynalyan, pastor of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Akhaltskha, told "Hetq" that the Georgian Orthodox Church observed the holiday of the beheading of John the Baptist yesterday and that the Georgians had renamed the Saint Nshan Church as John the Baptist. Father Manouk assumes this is the reason that Georgian pilgrims visited Saint Nshan.
"They came and looked inside, took photos and left. I keep an eye on things. I go up there two or three times a day," said Father Manouk.
Saint Nshan (also known as Saint Vardanants) is located in the Marda neighborhood of Akhaltskha. So many visitors come to the church that the main doors are always open. Mondays are a day of pilgrimage to Saint Nshan when Armenians of Akhaltskha make their way up to the church.
Father Manouk said, "We have designated Wednesdays as sermon day here at Saint Gregory. It's a day when people can meet with the pastor and ask questions. Yesterday we decided to carry out the same activities at Saint Nshan on Mondays." The decision still has to be presented to the Armenian Diocese of Georgia for final approval
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