Georgian Armenians

In 2001 John Paul II made finally his trip to Armenia which was first planned perhaps in 1999. Aleksy II Moscow Patriarch of Orthodox Church was also invited because it was great event 1700 anniversary of Armenians Baptism. John Paul II came in the day of prayers. Aleksy in the day of feting with big audience of powerful politicians.

Armenians find a way to have both parts Catholic superior and Orthodox, even knowing that their relationship is bad. Armenians are functioning for more than 1000 years in the middle of Moslems and have to be wise and smart to survive.

Perhaps it is why in all the Russia people realize them as clever but lazy people doing business with money but never working hardly.

Armenians you may meet everywhere. Their capital is in Erevan, but it is only the top of iceberg.

They have big Diaspora in the heart of Azerbaijan, not recognized but proclaimed as independent Republic of Karabakh.

There was ever big Diaspora in Crimea, Nakhichevan in the middle of Russian-city Rostov, in the city Lvov, Vienna and Venice. I was told in Poland we have 40.000 Armenians which came as new wave after collapse of USSR. In Moscow lives big number of Armenian Catholics after earthquake in Spitak and Leninakan (Giumri) 1988... both cities with majority of Armenian Catholics.

Jerusalem is divided on 4 national parts: Jewish, Arab, Christian, and Armenian.

Beirut in Lebanon is capital of Armenian Catholic Patriarch, called Katolikos.

The most powerful Catholic minority is in South Georgia on Turkish border. They live in two Counties: Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki.

All these years of my activities in Russia and Ukraine I met Armenians ever. I am lucky to have such opportunity to observe them collaborate and have friendship.

1. Saint Grigori Lusavorich

Lusavorich, means Enlightened, Armenians venerate him same way in Catholic and Monophysith (Armenian Gregorian Church so called Old Christians) Churches. Lusavorich created original alphabet used in Armenian language until today. He translated the bible and other liturgical books in old Armenian called "grabar". Even the language is difficult to understand for today's Armenians both Catholics and Monophysith use them in liturgy.

Armenian Liturgy in Catholic Church belongs to Eastern Catholics rites Family.

2. Saint Blaise

The most popular armenian saint is Saint Blaise. We venerate him 3-th of February. I met the custom of blessing peoples necks by touching two burning candles I met first in Bialystok as seminarian.

Bishop Ozorowski was so nicely serving that blessing that from that moment when I became a priest in Russia I tried to copy and never missed such custom. In Orthodox churches Russians venerate saint Blaise as patron of sick animals.

3. Cilician Armenia

Historycally happened that Armenian state in the best times was having territories in East and South Turkey so called Cilicia. On these territories we have "Saint Mountain" of Armenians Ararat.

Borders of Cilician Armenia come close to Siria and Lebannon. It is why we still have numerous Armenians in capitals of these countries: Damask, Beirut and even in holly city Jerusalem in Israel.

Holly Land was ever refuge place for them in times of Crusaders. Turks ever blamed Armenians for collaborating with them so popular name of Cilician Armenians is also "Franks". In the middle Age first wave of Armenians returned to full unity with Vatican later some of them became Catholics in 18-th century. That last wave concerns so called Polish Armenians living in actual Ukrainian borders especially in the city Lvov.

In unification process big role ever played respectful Mekhitarian Congregation. These priests has monastery on saint Lazar Island in Venice and in Vienna.

I saw in Venice some collection of Aivazovski pictures. That famous "Russian painter" was also Armenian, with changed name.

4. Aznavour

French Armenian is famous singer Charles Aznavour. My parishioners from Rostov on Don were telling me that his ancestors are from Akhaltsikhe County in Georgia. First Armenian president Levon Petrosian born in the same places and he was native Catholic.

5. Joseph Stalin

Stalin was not Armenian but because I wish to talk about Georgia I have to mention that odious person. I was crossing his native city Gori and I saw small monument in his memory testifying strange respect Georgians still have to him.

Just in that city Orthodox took from Catholics old church in which according dates of Prelate Peszkowski was working as simple security man fr. Saakashvili. He was also working some time in Artemovsk church in Ukraine under Russian name Saakov. His burial is in the middle of the church in Gori.

6. Refugees from Batumi

I was told also by my parishionners of Taganrog about Catholic church in Batumi. It seems it also was taken by Orthodox. My parishioners natives from Georgian Batumi were successful business clan members. Their grand-mother was living close to parish house. They ever made small gifts for our chapel...

During pastoral visits grand-mother was telling me about their uncle priest who was Batumi priest but in Soviet times became simple photographer.

Grand-daughter of that lady was participating sometime Holly Mass giving small concerts on piano. Her father Misha also came once to play alt. It was during Holly Mother of Fatima visit.

After my coming to Ukraine I got to know that they were killed by somebody for reason of their business. In Russia people is easy to commit such kind of crime for money. We still have many soldiers with Afghanistan or Chechen experience of war but without regular job or compensation. They easily may become paid killers.

Actually in their house live sisters Carmelites...I hope they pray for these poor souls.

7. Spitak

In my Major Seminary in Bialystok we were collecting donations for victims of Spitak and Leninakan earthquake. It was 1988. About 80.000 people died. It was horrible story and some people were telling that it was provoked eartquake by some millitary experiments with underground nuclear explosins

Spitak and Leninakan this is west Armenia County which is on Georgian border and have similar catholic population as in Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.

In Leninakan (Giumri) we have Bishop Sea for Armenian rite Catholics in all former USSR.

First local bishop was Mekhitarian Congregation priest fr. Nerses, native from Romania. I was told Katolikos of Armenian Gregorian church in Echmiazhin these days was his classmate also from Romania.

8. Salezians

All my knowledge about Georgia I got thanks to Salezians. There are two native from Ukraine, but very patriotic to Georgia and Armenian Catholics Priests. Fr. Anatol Ivaniuk is former organist of famous bishop Olszanski of Kamenets-Podolski and fr. Andrzej Janicki from Odessa. One is working in Ts'khalbpila (Akhaltsikhe County), the second in Turchkh (Akhalkalaki County).

They came to Georgia after request of some group Armenians which came to far away in the north Latvian Riga to ask priests for just returned churches.

Cardinal Vaivods was very kind to then and send these two volunteers.

Perhaps 10 years before in another Catholic church in Stskhvivlisi was working together with Eucharist sisters some Capuchin priest native from Latvia. He was trying to translate Roman rite missal and train local people to be Roman Catholics, but young Salezians criticized his efforts. Later to Stskhvivlisi came original Armenian priest from Lebanon fr. Daniel, I met him. He was about 50 years old and hardly tried to learn Russian and Georgian, both very difficult to study in his age even Armenians are very easy talking foreign languages.

I made two travels to Georgia. Both travels I made in war conditions between Georgians and Osetian. There were also Russian troops. Georgia ever criticize that they support Osetian separatists and insist they go home, but they do not wish. Such is Russian behaviour in former Soviet Republics, very crazy and inhuman.

I have many memories from both travels. Georgia has amazing landscapes in the middle of high Caucasus Mountains, but also deep artificial poverty because of Russian embargo on selling gas petrol etc. Georgian only resources are wonderful climate, wine and minerals water, but Mr. Putin actually cancelled also any commercial relations with Georgia so the poverty is progressing. I can imagine what a price this people pay for their independence. In one million city Tbilisi I was seeing only few cars because of lack of petrol, people cut all the trees in the city to heat their houses in the winter time.

Terrorism and other problems I saw in my own eyes and just because very young I decided such a trip without any visa or invitation. My only visa was sutana which played best role on numerous block posts. Perhaps dozen times my driver was stopped by soldiers of three different armies but he ever explained that he is bringing "Holly Father to Akhaltsikhe and soldiers do not disturb us even other drivers had many problems. People in these places and time were twice more prejudice than in other places. I hope it was respect to me but also I think perhaps it was fear of religion still mysterious and difficult to understand for soviet people in spring time 1993.

The reason of visiting Salezians was to train a bit their liturgy and customs because they were the most numerous parishioners in Rostov so I have gone to their native places to get information.

Armenians were really proud from such adventure. The second topic was to ask blessing of one boy which was afraid that fathers will not permit him enter to Seminary. I got such a blessing to him and he spent 2 years in Krakow.

He had girlfriend and it was his personal problem. He explained superiors that he cannot make such a sacrifice as he planned before and had gone back to Russia to Rostov.

9. Fr. Kowalczyk

In Poland we do not have armenian hierarchy, but we have parishes and pastoral points. One of main Armenian parishes exists in Gliwice (Silesia). During my visit in Poland in 1993 I met fr. Kowalczyk, Armenian roots Polish priest who made nice liturgical book to use by priest who have difficulties in reading Armenian characters. I saw my Salezian friends were using this booklet. I also prayed few times from that book during my studies of that liturgy.

I was happy to meet personally that priest, he was also happy seeing with me Arutiun, young boy from Rostov. Boy was surprised that the priest can talk same dialect as people in Georgia.

We got from that visit big number of small Armenian pictures with text of prayers printed in Vienna.

Later I shared these pictures with local Armenian Gregorian priest in Rostov and he was very happy.

Later, before going to Ukraine I met another famous Armenian roots polish priest in Krakow. Fr Zaleski-Isakowicz is Caritas worker in Radwanowice center for handicapped children and actual leader of Armenian Diaspora.

He became famous also because of his book criticizing polish clergy for being engaged in many cases in collaboration with secret services. We still do not know how many priests were doing so, but we have also some famous personalities between them.

One Dominican priest was even investigating Pope in Vatican. The other was main director of Catholic paper. Two persons were even Bishops, so fr. Zalewski got many difficulties in printing his book and even being active priest. Polish hierarchy was unhappy with his behaviour. In my opinion he had full right to discover all these scandals and help some priests to wash their hands and make penitence out of privileged positions in the church.

Bishops may also mistake as all the human.

10. Asmyk-Amalia-Artur

The most friendly to me in Rostov were members of familly Petrosian. They helped me to organize first trip to Georgia. They were ever good hosts, their child Nerses and nephew Petros were my altar boys.

Afterwards same friendship I got with Asmyk, Amalia and Arthur. Asmyk was mother of five children. Husband was making business she was cooking, her Armenian bread "lavash" was very tasty and she ever gave me in Sundays. She also pictured own dreams with religious topics. Once she told me that I have to pray for some 3 priests which died in Taganrog in the past. I do it and in short time we got new property for the many which came from German charitable organization Renovabis. Amalia was working in hospital and caring about two children Margaret and Tigran. She also visited church weekly.

Arthur their friend was illegal worker without Russian passport ever poor and homeless. When we get property he was living with me and working in deep night after all the day working for some companies. He prepared house nicely for coming of Carmelite priest Cassian. He liked praying and singed nicely.

In December 2004 some 15 parishioners from Taganrog came to visit me in Ukraine. They realized that I have many difficulties in repairing churches in my 3 parishes. They told about it to Arthur.

When he got this news he tried to cross the border without documents to help me like he was doing before. Unfortunately he was stopped and perhaps punished for his good intentions.

11. Ararat

I was touched also when I met in Irkutsk on Baikal some of my former parishioners from Rostov. They came looking for job and they were helping local bishop constructing his Cathedral.

They gave me address of Ararat altar boy and son of Sarkis driver of fr. Ivaniuk Salezian from Georgia. He was visiting some celebrations in puppet Theatre in Rostov but disappeared. Later he told me that his business in Rostov was bad and he refuges first to Sochi saving his life from concurrence. Sochi was close to Rostov so he was still in danger. It is why he has gone to the farthest place in Russia, to Kamchatka. I was parish priest there for 2 years and ever having good guests I was visiting his small restaurant near the volcano. Restorant was under his name Ararat.

He even invited bishop to his place and was really helpful in my staying in Kamchatka.

12. Assirians from Georgia

In Rostov I met another Diaspora with similar history as Armenians. Assyrians as Christians were also living for centuries in conditions of pressure, persecutions and genocide. It is why many from them emigrated from native Iraq to Georgia. Some of them belong to Nestorian Church, but majority actually belongs to family of Catholic eastern rites.

I got address of Assyrian leader in Rostov. It was very poor and simple shoemaker. He was kind to me even touched by my visit. He promised to visit our church but he did not.

Next contact I got in Taganrog. There were two Assyrian families. It was Joseph Chalabov with his Ukrainian wife, two daughters and his sister Tamara with handicapped husband.

Joseph was our parish leader, very talkative and educated man. He ever was hearing news from Vatican Radio and informing me each Sunday.

He also talked much about his language tradition and...Nestorian missions. I got to know from him that first missionary people in China were Assyrian priests.

He early died, but his sister and children still visit the parish. Tamara even visited me in Makeevka during Taganrog parishioners' trip to Makeevka.

She was very surprised when she realized that also in Makeevka I have one Assyrian lady.

13. Mrs. Ninelli

My Assyrian in Makeevka is Mrs. Ninelli the widow. She loosed her 41 years old son and from that time she looks very poor, alone and even strange. Same as Joseph from Taganrog she is well educated and talkative. I took her once to Gorlovka because I was told there are many Assyrians from 30-ties and they live close to Orthodox Cathedral. We were walking along the entire street. People took written invitation to Patron Day of Sacred Heart of Jesus, they promised to come but nobody came. Perhaps some day...

14. Georgians in Ukraine

Many Georgians are living in Ukraine. It is result of famous economic blockade. People has no job no future in Georgia so emigrate to all former soviet republics even far away to western countries.

In Russia became very famous native from Ukraine singer Melazhe.

Journalist Gongazhe killed in times of presidency of Mr. Kuchma is national hero and symbol of fighting for independent press.

In Zaporozhye the most famous fabric producing cars has as director some Georgian man.

In Enakevo local Meyer who helped in returning Catholic Church Sergo Rukazhe was ever friendly with me.

Some people were also in Prime Minister Timoshenko times working as ministers in her team. By the way Timoshenko is native Armenian also.

14. Dagestan man from Georgia

In Artemovsk in process of returning local church was angaged local Caucasus man, vice director of Polish Furniture Fabric Forte. He was doing that under command of his Polish boss but in fact without his typical Georgian abilities we will never get back our property.

He was working as officer in Afghanistan before so he saw many things in his life. His name was Kurbanov. He had also another helper from Georgia. Armenian Boris was his driver. Sometime Boris was driving me to Bishop Office in far away Kharkov to manage important things concerning our returned church.

15. Sokhumi

One of most important job in restoring church in Artemovsk was installing new windows.

I got from local Catholics address of Mr. Labinski native Polish. Labinski was very enthusiastic and liked this kind of job. He wished talk with me about details so he invited me home. I realized his grand-children are Caucasus blood so I asked if they were Armenians. No, he answered, their father refuges from Sokhumi after 300.000 Georgians were expelled from North West Georgia under pressure of local minority Abkhaz. In this case also "finger of Moscow" was the most significant part in victory of separatist forces. Moscow politicians really hate Georgians and for me it is some mystery why?

I was also curious why Labinski is so enthusiastic to our church. He answered that he is soviet educated man so it will be difficult for him to convert now, but perhaps his grand-children will go there.

15. Georgian Church in Moscow

How complicated is history of Georgia you may concern knowing that some big territory in the center of Moscow 200 years ago was given to some Prince from Georgia his relatives and guards. He built there nice church and colony of Georgians had own place in Russian capital. Later in same place grew Russian Parliament and Catholic Church of Immaculate conception.

Same as in Ukraine also in Russia we have famous Georgians. We have in Russia most famous sculptor Ceretelli, author of monumental statue of Peter the Great. Another famous man is journalist Swanizhe. There are some businessman and simple people but under pressure of Putin's regime they also slowly disappear or immigrate back to Georgia.

Conclusions

As you see my talking about Armenians, Assyrians and Georgian became a bit sad picture about so many hardships these nations suffered in the past and still suffer. There is strong danger of dividing Georgia between 3 main minorities which aspirations ever were inspired in KGB Lubianka. There good specialist of destroying small countries.

I really like Georgia and I will be happy they may be really free successful country. We have in Europe many similar size countries which survive nicely during centuries. Caucasus was ever the place of so many wars. We need to pray that it may change some day.

Such prayer initiated Pope John Paul II visiting Georgia in 1999. Atheist President Shevardnadze told to journalists that he was so much touched waiting for that visit that even cannot sleep.

Fr. Jaroslaw Wisniewski, 24 October 2006 Beijing