Andria Jagmaidze: It is very sad that this vandalism that happened in the church was not responded to by any international organization, and no embassy mentioned this event as vandalism

It is very sad that this vandalism that happened in the church was not responded to by any international organization, and no embassy mentioned this event as vandalism - I am sure that if it had happened in connection with another denomination, there would have been be a big uproar, - archbishop Andria Jagmaidze, the head of public relations service of the Patriarchate, said regarding the developments relating to the icon of St. Matrona.

According to him, for some reason, the Georgian Orthodox Church has again found itself in a discriminatory situation and it is a very bad sign for future relations.

As for the events directly related to the Matrona icon, according to Jagmaidze, it is a pity that the clergy who are still working in the Church of Georgia took part in this scandal secretly or visibly.

The archbishop expresses hope that in time all of them will be properly exposed.

Jagmaidze also responded to the announcement of the Patriarchate, in which the Patriarchate appeals to the donors of the icon of the Holy Matrona to make appropriate changes to the icon, or the Patriarchate will do it itself.

“What is happening in Georgia today in relation to the church is persecution. It is possible that in the future we may see direct attacks on churches, raids, which happened 100 years ago and a little earlier, after the Bolshevik revolution.

This is neobolshevism, this is the face of it. I am sure that it does not matter which icon is there, which saint is depicted, these people will do this to any icon. It is very sad that the clergy who are still working in the Church of Georgia were secretly or visibly participating in this scandal. I hope that all of them will be properly exposed in time.

This is a very sensitive topic for our society. We welcome the initiative to regulate the legislation and criminalize insults on religious grounds, insults on religious sentiments.

It is very sad that this vandalism that happened in the church was not responded to by any international organization, and no embassy mentioned this event as vandalism - I am sure that if it had happened in connection with another denomination, there would have been be a big uproar”, said Jagmaidze.