The Patriarchate of Georgia has issued a strong statement addressing recent events during protests in the country, highlighting acts of hostility and blasphemy that have deeply disturbed the faithful and heightened societal tensions.
The statement begins by expressing concern over the escalating hatred and lack of willingness for dialogue amidst the ongoing protests. “We are witnessing extreme manifestations of hostility, which have sadly extended to occult rituals and blasphemous acts,” the Patriarchate noted, referring to a shocking incident where protesters burned a coffin inscribed with the image of Christ during a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue, outside the Georgian Parliament.
The Patriarchate condemned this act as a deliberate provocation and an affront to Christian values, stressing that such actions only serve to deepen divisions within society. Organizers and participants of these incidents bear significant responsibility, the statement emphasized, adding that this behavior echoes painful historical periods marked by the desecration and persecution of the Church.
While acknowledging that some protesters may have participated without fully understanding the gravity of their actions, the Patriarchate urged all involved to reflect on their behavior, recognize its severity, and seek repentance.
In a compassionate gesture, clergy at the Kashveti Church of Saint George have been keeping nightly vigils to pray for the protesters, many of whom have joined the clergy in prayer. However, the Patriarchate strongly criticized the proximity of occult rituals to the church as a targeted provocation and an insult to believers, regardless of their stance on the protests.
The statement reminded Christians of the spiritual dangers posed by engaging in occult practices, warning that such actions distance individuals from God. “Georgia is a land sanctified by the blood of Christian martyrs,” the Patriarchate declared, emphasizing that any path leading to the desecration of sacred traditions is ultimately destructive.
Concluding on a hopeful note, the Patriarchate called for unity and love to prevail in these turbulent times. “May the Lord grant us discerning hearts, humility, and a spirit of mutual love, so that we may overcome these challenges together,” the statement read.
