TBILISI–Following a meeting with His Holiness Karekin I–Catholicos of All Armenia’s–Georgian patriarch Ilya II had announced–on national television–June 12–the ceremonial blessing of the to-be-built Holy Trinity Church on the foothills of Mt. Elya which took place on June 15.
Construction of the church had ceased for a year and three months. Ilya II also reported that Karekin I had saluted the endeavor.
The Holy Trinity Church is being built in Halvapar’s historic Armenian cemetery Khochivank. Among those buried there are renowned Armenia’s Simon Zavarian and Raffi.
The remains and tombstones of those at Khochivank were done away with in the foundation laying process of the building. This has led to some criticism.
The building cite had already been blessed on October 28–1995–with the participation of Ilya II and President Shevardnadze.