Senior Georgian priest in UK, Northern Ireland expelled from priesthood after criticising Patriarchate

Senior Georgian priest Ilia (Irakli) Chigladze in the eparchy of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been dismissed from the priesthood following his criticism of the Georgian Patriarchate, the press service of the Patriarchate reported earlier today.

Chigladze has been actively criticising the patriarchate and several members of the clergy since 2020, stating that the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II is ‘responsible for the high mortality rate caused by the coronavirus and anti-vaccine sentiments’ in the country. 

[Ilia II] is an idol that 88 per cent of our country’s population worships,” Chigladze said. 

• Patriarchate: patriarch’s decision on vaccination shouldn’t be determiner for others

The Georgian Patriarchate reports that the decision by the Synod Commission was made on July 30 after which Chigladze was ‘given time to repent.’

The Patriarchate also says that Chigladze was summoned to appear before the Synod Commission within a month on June 25, however, he refused to do so and ‘made no explanations in this regard,’ the Patriarchate reports.

The statement reads that the issue will be submitted to the Holy Synod for a final decision.

Chigladze stated regarding the decision that there is ‘totalitarian and repressive regime’ in the Georgian Patriarchate, adding that it has a 'Soviet-Stalinist-Kremlin content.'

He states that he is ‘being punished for the criticism.’

• Health officials request church’s support in coronavirus vaccination campaign

Overall, 12,631 people have died from coronavirus in Georgia as of December 10, while 1,037,866 individuals are fully vaccinated in the country amounting to 36.3% of the adult population.

The Georgia Patriarchate states that clerics' positive or negative attitude to the vaccination process ‘should not be a trigger for others to make decisions.’

Based on the survey of the International Republican Institute (IRI), the patriarchate is the second most liked institution in Georgia after the army with about 80% of the country's population trusting it.