A vigil of Christians, Yids and Muslims for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh extends to the Peace Cathedral in Tbilisi, the church of our project ambassador Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili. From the Georgian capital it is less than 80 kilometers to the Armenian border. Azerbaijan's border is even closer. For over a month now, the fighting in the South Caucasus between the two countries has been raging over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Shocked by the conflicts that have so far cost the lives of around a thousand people, Bishop Malkhaz invited to a first multi-religious prayer for peace on October 15. On this Saturday, October 31, the clergy will meet again at 7 p.m. Georgian time (4 p.m. CET) and want to keep it that way until the weapons rest.

The live broadcast of the interfaith vigil can be followed on the Facebook page of the Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia.

"It took some effort to convince the Azerbaijani and Armenian clergy that we should come together and pray immediately," said the Evangelical Baptist metropolitan, "but as we came together, talked to each other and prayed together for peace, the tensions evaporated." At the end of the service, it was almost difficult for the participants to separate again.

In addition to Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili, the first meeting was attended by Pastor Narek Kushjan of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Shiite Sheikh Mirtagi Asadov of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijani Muslims in Georgia, the spiritual leader of the Yezidis in Georgia, Aktiar Pir Dimitry Pirbari, and other religious representatives representing Azerbaijani and Armenian communities. Each participant prayed during these vigils in his or her own tradition and language, be it Georgian, Armenian, Yezidi or Arabic. Texts from the Gospel and the Koran were also read.

These meetings show once again the unifying effect that this exchange can have, creating an atmosphere of peace and reconciliation. The Armenian and Azerbaijani clergy expressed hope for a peaceful future in the light of this experience. The Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Yezidi clergy of different religions jointly drafted the following declaration:

"We, the Yezidi, Muslim and Christian clergy gathered in the Peace Cathedral, commit ourselves to hold a weekly vigil together for peace and reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan until the war is over".

The House of One accompanied and honoured this courageous initiative of Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili with a prayer for peace: