Tbilisi's Red Gospel Armenian Church on the Brink of Collapse: Alarm Raised

The 'Armenian Community of Georgia' NGO is raising alarms: Tbilisi's once-highest dome church, the Holy Mother of God of Shamkhor, also known as the Red Gospel, is soon to become inaccessible and surrounded by buildings, leading to fears that no one is prepared to restore this church or return it to its rightful owners before it ultimately collapses and resembles the St. George Church in Tbilisi's Mukhnuts, which was entirely destroyed by heavy rains.

In 2016, the construction of a high-rise hotel began just five meters from the church's eastern wall, which sparked significant dissatisfaction among the public. Unfortunately, the concerns and grievances expressed by the community did not lead to the desired outcome. The hotel was built, which, apart from damaging the church's foundation, has become a serious threat to the remaining sections of this historical monument, thereby losing its architectural value due to this construction.

It is worth noting that in 2018, after a Sunday service, a group of faithful from the Ejmiatsin Church in Havlabar marched peacefully towards the Red Gospel Church, where candle lighting and prayers were held next to the church's wall. Regrettably, it must be noted that today this wall is also inaccessible, with the hotel’s security room on one side and, presumably, the hotel's parking lot on the other. The fir trees planted along the wall have grown significantly in height and width.

Moreover, at the end of 2023, a sign was placed in the parking lot adjacent to the church, indicating that the area is for sale, which raises concerns that the church will soon be inaccessible to the public.

We urge all those responsible for this issue to pay attention in time before it is too late. We hope that the Georgian government, stepping towards Europe, will show proper respect for cultural heritage values.