Statement by the Georgian Patriarchate on the church located at the Vertskhli Street.

22th of January, 2012 year

As it is well known to the public, on Christmas days, located in the old part of Tbilisi, at the Vertskhli Street (Silver Str.) inactive church of St. Nicolas, which the Armenians call "Surb Nshan" was damaged because of fire. This fact is our deep regret. Sadly, the information spread by mass media on this fact contains some inaccuracies. The Patriarchate of Georgia considers that in the church located on the Vertskhli Street in the first place must be held urgently work to strengthen it, and then should be established a joint commission, which will conduct archaeological research and draw appropriate conclusions. In order to solve the question on the origin of the church and hence its identity, in this discussion are mandatory to take part the representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Armenian side. Similarly, should be scientifically studied the origin and affiliation of other controversial churches and only after this must be made based on an equal footing transfer – located in Armenia, in the diocese of Lore-Tashir Georgian Church to the Georgian side, and accordingly a church in Georgia – to the Armenian side.