Georgian Patriarchate asks donors to modify Trinity Cathedral icon following controversy on Stalin image

The Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Christian Church on Thursday asked donors of an icon seen at Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral to modify its visuals showing St. Matrona of Moscow, a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church, alongside Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, after a photograph of the icon sparked controversy on social media and led to its defacement.

The icon was donated by the Alliance of Patriots domestic opposition group and its leader Irma Inashvili, who have been accused of ties with Russia on the backdrop of the country’s occupation of Georgian territories, with the depiction of the Soviet ruler also leading to controversy.

The debate on social media was sparked after cleric Ilia Chigladze published the image of the icon on his social media account on January 6, with the Holy Trinity Cathedral priest saying the icon had been placed there three months ago. 

Police are also looking into an incident on Tuesday in which the icon was defaced with paint by an alleged civic activist, with the ruling Georgian Dream party announcing amendments to tighten the law for acts of “insulting religious objects”.

In its comments, the Patriarchate said Stalin’s presence on the icon had triggered “unresolved, contentious discussions and confrontations, further exacerbated by political undertones” and added the icon had become the target of “unjustified offensive actions” and escalating tensions.

In comments on the content of the visuals of the icon, the body said the alleged meeting between Stalin and the saint was “not supported by sufficient evidence”, was not included in the canonical text of the latter’s life, and was not recognised by the Russian Church which canonised her. 

It further noted a dedicated study on the matter had been conducted and led to the conclusion that it was “imperative” to revise the visuals, also stating its intention to undertake "necessary modifications” if the donors would not implement them. 

The religious organisation further explained canonical rules of iconography allowed depiction of not only saints but also non-religious individuals - including “rulers, ordinary people, torturers and persecutors” of Christian figures and faith - without glorifying them.