Orthodox Church Urges Not to Meddle in Affairs, Bans Liberal Priest from Conducting Services
The Holy Synod, the main governing body of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which held a session on December 14, called on the media and politicians to refrain from meddling in the Church?s internal affairs, following a series of corruption and mismanagement accusations made by some non-governmental organizations, as well as by a group of liberal priests.
Recently, the situation in the Georgian Orthodox Church has become one of the top issues widely discussed by media and society, after a small group of priests, led by Dean Basil Kobakhidze voiced their criticism towards the officials of the Church.
Kobakhidze says the current leadership of the Georgian Orthodox Church is ?absorbed by the fanaticism? which isolates the Orthodox Church and increases the gap between it and the rest of the world.
As a result, on December 14 the Holy Synod banned Basil Kobakhidze from conducting services because, as the Holy Synod put it, he acted on his own accord, without permission from his superiors. Dean Basil Kobakhidze will, however, be permitted to remain in the Church.
