Georgian Church Leaders Reject Russian Intelligence Claims on Patriarchal Election
Georgian church official dismisses allegations against Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as “impossible," while a Georgian bishop said he doesn't believe the Russian government "would be so foolish as to make such statements."
TBILISI — The Georgian Patriarchate and senior clergy have strongly rejected claims by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleging outside interference in the upcoming election of a new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
A March 31 release from SVR stated that, according to information they had received, "the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, continues to persistently pursue a treacherous line aimed at splitting world Orthodoxy, guided by the principle of 'divide and rule.' This time, he seeks to bring the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) under his influence, taking advantage of the death of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II."
Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, the Georgian Patriarchate’s public relations chief, dismissed the accusations as baseless, stating that “such interference by another local church is unimaginable and entirely impossible."
The SVR said that the Ecumenical Patriarch is allegedly backing specific candidates for the patriarchal throne. Among those named were Metr. Abraam (Garmelia) and Metr. Grigoli (Berbichashvili), despite the charter of the Georgian Church only permitting candidates who are 70 years of age and younger. Metr. Abraam is 78 years old, and Metr. Grigoli is soon turning 70.
"Within his inner circle, he presents them as the most suitable executors of his will," SVR said of Patr. Bartholomew's alleged view on the aforementioned hierarchs. "In church circles, it is noted that a lust for power has become a constant companion of the Constantinopolitan schismatic. Through his actions, Bartholomew is once again replacing the 'primacy of honor' with a 'primacy of power,' interfering in the internal affairs of yet another Church — namely, the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the most ancient."
The allegations were further dismissed by Metr. Nikoloz (Pachuashvili), who expressed doubt that Russian intelligence would issue such a statement at all, calling it likely “fabricated” and “foolish,” adding that he does not trust the information.
"I don’t think they would be so foolish as to make such statements," the Georgian bishop said. "I think this is not original or authentic... They would achieve no goal and would not make such pointless claims — I do not think so."
The dispute comes amid longstanding tensions between Moscow and Constantinople, dating back to the 2018 break in communion following Constantinople's granting of a Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which actively engages in persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
Following the March 17 death of Patr. Ilia II of Georgia, Georgia has 40 to 60 days to elect a new patriarch. In the interim, Locum Tenens Metr. Shio (Mujiri) is overseeing church leadership while the Holy Synod prepares to vote.
The SVR's claims remain unfounded at this time, and no autocephalous Orthodox church shares the view that the Ecumenical Patriarch is "schismatic."
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Emmanuel of Chalcedon had rejected claims made by Russian Foreign Intelligence in January.
