TBILISI. – The head of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan wrote a letter addressed to the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili asking to take measures on preserving the Armenian cultural monuments and the returning five churches to the diocese in Tbilisi.

Among the five churches are the Holy Seal (St Nshan), St. Norashen, Mughni Church of St George, St Minas, St Astvatsatsin and St Nshan in Samtskhe Javakhketi region.

To note, St Nshan was partially damaged on May 13 due to heavy precipitations. Previously the church was damaged twice earlier this year due to fires. As a result, a group of experts from the Armenian Ministry of Culture left for Tbilisi to reach an arrangement with the Georgian authorities to restore the church.