Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze: We are in dialogue over restoring a Georgian temple in Russia; we were invited, and our scholars will join the rehabilitation process

“Inter-church dialogue between Georgia and Russia remains ongoing and will continue despite Russia’s military occupation of Georgian territories,” the Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Department, Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze, declared on Friday.

Archpriest Jaghmaidze noted that several historic Georgian churches exist across Russia which Moscow officially recognises as part of Georgia’s cultural heritage.

“‘People often view inter-church relations through a purely political lens, which leads to misunderstandings,'” Archpriest Jaghmaidze said. “‘Ecclesiastical relations have evolved over centuries and rest on unique foundational principles. Because our political relationship with Russia is so fraught due to the occupation of our lands, some assume dialogue between churches should be impossible. Yet relations continue, and that is simply a fact.'”

“Many things occur across various national churches that we may find unacceptable and cannot endorse, but that does not mean we should sever communication entirely,” he added.

When asked by journalists about the key agenda items during recent talks with a Russian Patriarchate delegation, Archpriest Jaghmaidze confirmed the discussions centred on occupied territories and regulating ecclesiastical life there.

“‘The paramount issue raised by Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III—and the central pillar of the meeting—concerned the occupied territories, our displaced population, and the fact that the Georgian Church is prevented from conducting services there,'” Archpriest Jaghmaidze explained. “Our people cannot even visit the graves of their ancestors on solemn holy days. The discussions focused on finding ways to make incremental progress.'”

“‘We recognise that the Church lacks the power to end the occupation or single-handedly direct state-to-state relations; in that sense, we are to some extent hostages to political circumstances,'” he continued. “However, there is a large Georgian population in Russia who are practising Orthodox Christians. Russia recognises specific churches on its territory as Georgian heritage, and we are currently in dialogue over restoring one of these temples. We were formally invited, and Georgian scholars and conservation experts will be directly involved in the rehabilitation process. The situation in the occupied territories remains the core topic as we seek to restore proper church life there.”