Thousands of Armenian monuments preserved on the territory of Georgia (about 80 churches) such as the complex of Harants monastery - the residence of the archbishop of Georgian-Armenians, St. Astvatzatzin church of Khojivank and the churchyard etc., were already destroyed during the Stalin's dictatorship.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union the policy of the state and spiritual leaders of independent Georgia on the Armenian monuments differs from the Soviet powers' policy:
During the Soviet tenure the churches were simply destroyed while at present they transfigure and appropriate (Georganize) them. Under the name of "repair" the number of erased inscriptions from the walls of about 30 Armenian churches, which were turned into Georgian ones, and other buildings, cross-stones and gravestones as well, already amounts to more than 300.
The Armenian churches and inscriptions have also been annihilated in Surami, Nakhshirgora, Shahnapat, Lisi, Sighnakhi, Telavi, Velistsikhe and other cities and villages of Georgia.
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Photo's of the Destruction by Georgia
Armenian churches being Georgianized In Tbilisi, Georgia.
Karapet St. Gevorg, built 16th century. Georgianized
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Blessed Virgin of Betlehem, built 13th century. Georgianized
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St. Stepanos, built 18th century.
View in 1868-1870, Tbilisi, the state before its Georgianization
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St. Cross of Vera, built 1830. Georgianized
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Blessed Virgin of Djugureti, built 19th century. Georgianized
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St. Gevorg Zorabashe, built 19th century.
Georgianized
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In the vicinity of of Tbilisi
St. Gevorg Teleti, built 18th century. Georgianized
View before Georganisation, View After.
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St. Gevorg Shavnabad, 18th century. Georgianized
View before Georganisation, View during.
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Blessed Virgin of Shindisi, 18th century. Georgianized
View of Armenian Inscription's Removed.
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St. Gevorg of Tsekhneti village, 19th century. Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Nakhshir Gora, 19th century.
Georgianized
St. Gevorg of Lisi village, 19th century.
Georgianized
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In Kakheti region
St. Gevorg of Signakhi, 18th century. Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Velitsikhe, 19th century.
Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Telavi, 18th century.
Georgianized
Holy Trinity of Telavi.
Georgianized
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In Gori region
St. Gevorg of Tzegvi village, 19th century. Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Akhalkalk, 19th century.
Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Doesi, 19th century.
Georgianized
St. Gevorg of Bergu village, 19th century.
Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Zerti village, 18th century.
Georgianized
St. Gevorg of Akhalgori town, 18th century.
Georgianized
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In Khashuri region
St. Grigor Illuminator of Surami, 18th century. Georgianized
Blessed Virgin of Vahga village, 19th century.
Georgianized
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In Kutaisi region
St. Gevorg of Kutaisi, 18th century. Georgianized
St. Gevorg of Marneuli, 19th century.
Georgianized
Teleti Blessed Virign, 18th century.
Georgianized
St. Gevorg of Mukhad village, 19th century.
Georgianized
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Armenian Churches, with uncertain fate
In Tbilisi, Georgia
Norashen, built 15th century.
View in 1995, Still Armenian. View in 2005, being Georgianized
Current view of Georganisation of Norashen.
Actually making new cross stones in cemetery to look old.
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Shamkoretsots Blessed Virgin, built 19th century.
View in 1988, View in 1989, BLOWN UP.
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St. Nshan, built 18th century.
Destroyed by Arson.
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St. Minas, built 19th century.
Mughnu St. Gevorg, built 14th century.
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In Akhaltsikhe
St. Nshan,
built 19th century.
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Armenian cemetery Vera in Tbilisi.
Vandalized
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Armenian cemetery of Dusheti.
vandalized
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Monasterial complex of Gremi
Georganised
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Armenian built church Uspenia in Ananuri
Erased of Armenian Cross-stones
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The Caucasus Museum
Vandalized
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Photo's and Information courtesy of Jeghische Gevorkian
and also from Research of Armenian Architecture
Some of Destruction by Georgia
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The cemetery of Khojivank, turned into a public park during the Soviet period. Now the church of Holy Trinity is being built and many decedents were removed from their tombs during laying the foundation of the church.
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The Kusanats St. Stephanos church
was appropriated in 1989-1991 under the name of
"repair." All the
signs proving its Armenian have been
destroyed and a stall for church candle sale was built on
the place of the founder-Mother Superior's tomb
whose decedent was thrown from her tomb.
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The Bethlehem St. Astvatztatzin
church was also appropriated under pretence of
"repair." Its high altar, the cross-pedestal, christening
basin, medieval cross-stones and lapidary
inscriptions laid in the walls were annihilated here as well.
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After totally destruction of the St. Gevorg
church of Dzorabash a new Georgian church was erected on its
site.
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The Shamkoretsots Karmir Avetaran
church was blasted on 13 April 1989
and its destruction was ascribed to
intensity 4 earthquake taken place a day ago in Tbilisi.
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The St. Astvatzatzin church of Norashen
was also deprived of its high altar, christening basin and the
cross-stones laid in its walls (one of them dating back 1650), lapidary
inscriptions and the frescoes drawn by Hovnatanian masters were
annihilated.
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The building inscription of the southern façade of
St. Gevorg church of Karap (dated 1753) was
annihilated during the
"repair" works on the church.
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The Armenian church situated on the
quarters of Vera of the city of Tbilisi is
continuously destroyed due to burying Georgian decedents
there.
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As a result of the "repair" of the church of St. Gevorg monastery in the village of Teleti and its belfry, situated in the vicinity of Tbilisi, the high altar, christening basin, cross-stones and gravestones having Armenian inscriptions on them were annihilated.
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