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HOLY SYNOD MEET TO DISCUSS CONTROVERSIAL NEW RELIGION LAW
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
The Messenger
July 12 2011
Georgia
A meeting of Holy Synod was held on July 11, where some decisions
were taken regarding the recent granting of legal status to other
religious faiths in the country. Their full decision has still not
been released to society; however the members of Synod have already
made some statements.
"Holy Synod made explanations regarding law on denominations and took
decision of compromising character that will benefit the country and
the church,'~R father Iobi told journalists after the Synod session.
Based on father Serapime, majority MP, Lasha Tordia was invited to the
Patriarchate for juridical explanations of the law, "the authority
representatives, while speaking with us, claim that other religions
will not became equal to ours due to the law and granting them some
property is not on the agenda as well. Mayor Gigi Ugulava said about
this during his visit to the Patriarchate yesterday and Lasha Tordia
today, we have also heard from them that changing of the law is
impossible, however making some amendments can be carried out." He
also stated that Georgian society and especially other faiths should
understand that after the changes in the law, they would not be equal
to the Georgian orthodox religion and that this point is written in
the Synod's decision.
'Nobody had hidden motives. Deputies suffer from the situation
most, as they fear the Patriarch of Georgia will have the feeling
that parliament goes against the Georgian church,' Vice Speaker of
parliament Rusudan Karvalishvili , stated
The deputy states that the bill on the status of religions does
not cause doubts, as the state has a constitutional agreement with
Georgian Orthodox Church, that is superior to civil code. "Amendments
to the civil code cannot be compared to the constitutional agreement
with the Georgian orthodox church. I assure you that all the issues
will be investigated and there will be communication to clear
up the misunderstanding", Kervalishvili said. Moreover, majority
representative Mikheil Machavariani stated that Georgian church
would have the same status in Armenia, "The Armenian Church said
that it would have granted the same status to the Georgian Church in
their country, as they had here in Georgia. After coming back to the
homeland the Armenian Patriarch rechecked the issue with Armenian
authorities and got confirmation that the analogy draft would be
prepared in Armenia."
The majority of Georgian opposition parties continue appealing to the
authorities to abolish the law, "a regime acting in the country has
reached the culmination of moral annihilation and by the law adopted
recently has declared war against God and the state, we appeal to
the Parliament to hold a special session and to abolish the changes,
"statement of Labour Party, reads.
At the same time, hundreds of Georgians are holding a peaceful protest
in Tbilisi to expressing their unhappiness with the new law.
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
The Messenger
July 12 2011
Georgia
A meeting of Holy Synod was held on July 11, where some decisions
were taken regarding the recent granting of legal status to other
religious faiths in the country. Their full decision has still not
been released to society; however the members of Synod have already
made some statements.
"Holy Synod made explanations regarding law on denominations and took
decision of compromising character that will benefit the country and
the church,'~R father Iobi told journalists after the Synod session.
Based on father Serapime, majority MP, Lasha Tordia was invited to the
Patriarchate for juridical explanations of the law, "the authority
representatives, while speaking with us, claim that other religions
will not became equal to ours due to the law and granting them some
property is not on the agenda as well. Mayor Gigi Ugulava said about
this during his visit to the Patriarchate yesterday and Lasha Tordia
today, we have also heard from them that changing of the law is
impossible, however making some amendments can be carried out." He
also stated that Georgian society and especially other faiths should
understand that after the changes in the law, they would not be equal
to the Georgian orthodox religion and that this point is written in
the Synod's decision.
'Nobody had hidden motives. Deputies suffer from the situation
most, as they fear the Patriarch of Georgia will have the feeling
that parliament goes against the Georgian church,' Vice Speaker of
parliament Rusudan Karvalishvili , stated
The deputy states that the bill on the status of religions does
not cause doubts, as the state has a constitutional agreement with
Georgian Orthodox Church, that is superior to civil code. "Amendments
to the civil code cannot be compared to the constitutional agreement
with the Georgian orthodox church. I assure you that all the issues
will be investigated and there will be communication to clear
up the misunderstanding", Kervalishvili said. Moreover, majority
representative Mikheil Machavariani stated that Georgian church
would have the same status in Armenia, "The Armenian Church said
that it would have granted the same status to the Georgian Church in
their country, as they had here in Georgia. After coming back to the
homeland the Armenian Patriarch rechecked the issue with Armenian
authorities and got confirmation that the analogy draft would be
prepared in Armenia."
The majority of Georgian opposition parties continue appealing to the
authorities to abolish the law, "a regime acting in the country has
reached the culmination of moral annihilation and by the law adopted
recently has declared war against God and the state, we appeal to
the Parliament to hold a special session and to abolish the changes,
"statement of Labour Party, reads.
At the same time, hundreds of Georgians are holding a peaceful protest
in Tbilisi to expressing their unhappiness with the new law.