Georgian Speaker Denounces “Religious War” Against Orthodox Church
Georgian officials frame criticism of the Church as a failed foreign-backed campaign against national identity.
TBILISI, GEORGIA — Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has described a 22-year effort to discredit the Georgian Orthodox Church as a “religious war” aimed at undermining the nation’s spiritual foundation, according to local media reports.
His remarks came following the repose of His Holiness Patr. Ilia II, who led the Church for 48 years and reposed on March 17. Widely regarded as the most trusted figure in Georgian society, the Patriarch also served as godfather to more than 50,000 children. Papuashvili referenced a 2004 warning from Patr. Ilia II that an anti-Church campaign was being orchestrated from abroad.
The speaker argued that the campaign sought to weaken the Church’s authority and replace it with foreign ideology, linking it to what he described as efforts by European officials to promote the European Union as a pseudo-religion. He also alleged that organizations critical of the Church received foreign funding, but said the campaign ultimately failed, citing the massive turnout of mourners for Patr. Ilia II as evidence.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Georgian Church outlined the process for electing a new Patriarch.
