Georgian Patriarch Visits Moscow

Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC), Patriarch Ilia II, who is visiting Moscow to participate in the events marking the 70th birthday of Russian Patriarch Kirill, told the latter that “although we are not politicians, it is possible to somehow influence the processes.”

“Regulation of relations between Russia and Georgia is very important for the two countries; we need each other,” the Georgian Patriarchate quoted Ilia II as saying on November 21.

“I think that Georgia should be a place of peaceful cooperation between the East and the West, a place of good neighborhood. Confrontation is extremely dangerous and it may overgrow into global conflict,” the Georgian Patriarch said.

“Although we are not politicians and cannot take serious steps in this sphere, it is possible to somehow influence the processes,” he added.

The Georgian Patriarchate said that during the meeting with Russian Patriarch Kirill, Ilia II raised “the problem” of Tskhinvali and Tskhum-Abkhazeti Eparchy.

“We appreciate the position of the Russian Church, which has stated for multiple times that it recognizes the jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church in these regions,” the Georgian Patriarch said.

Patriarch Kirill said on November 19 that “the relationships between the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches are of great importance for our states and for our peoples.”

“Your life is closely linked to the life of the Russian Orthodox Church,” he told Patriarch Ilia II. “My biography is intertwined with yours: we took part in many events, both joyful and sorrowful, that were a part of the life of the Orthodox Christians living in the Soviet Union. And later we have always had good, sincere and open relations, based on mutual trust. I believe it has made its great contribution to the promotion of good relationships between our Churches.”

“Our churches serve as an example for politicians in connection with the relations between our countries,” Ilia II said.

“It is desirable for our countries to have better relations and we should do our best to improve relations between the politicians of our countries. I think, we will manage to do it. We need each other and we should help each other,” the Russian Patriarchate quoted him as saying.

On November 20 Georgian Patriarch Ilia II performed the Joint Patriarchal Liturgy together with other Heads of the Orthodox Churches also invited to Moscow.

There are no official reports on whether the Georgian Patriarch will meet Russian officials in Moscow. It will be the Georgian Patriarch’s fifth visit to Russia after the 2008 war. During those visits, Patriarch Ilia II met Russia’s former and incumbent Presidents, Dimitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin.