On June 21, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II received the Minister of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia Mr. Nikoloz Rurua. At the meeting attended the Alaverdi Metropolitan David (Makharadze) and Deacon Besarion Menabde.

His Holiness once again confirmed the position of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church and stated that the Patriarchate of Georgia has initiated and supported the restoration of the Cathedral of Bagrati, but according to the project which is as close as possible to the historic appearance of the cathedral.

This position was voiced by representatives of the Patriarchate of Georgia at the meeting of June 22 at the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, on which attended by the project’s author of the west wing of the cathedral, Mr. Andrea Bruno.

It should be noted that Mr. Bruno properly understood the position of the Church and supported the idea to use in the cathedral’s facing instead of glass a material that organically will fit into interior, will be close to the texture of the stone and will not hurt a holistic perception of the cathedral.

At the meeting it was agreed to stop talking about installing an elevator and use of glass in flooring the second floor of the cathedral.

Soon, Mr. Bruno has to submit a new project taking into account the agreements reached.