Moscow, April 1, 2026
Pat. Bartholomew led the funeral of Pat. Ilia last month. Photo: civil.ge
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has issued a statement accusing Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople of seeking to influence the election of the new Patriarch of Georgia following the repose of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II last month.
The statement, published by the SVR press bureau on March 31 and titled “Bartholomew Has Forgotten Himself in His Arrogance,” alleges that Pat. Bartholomew hopes to divide and conquer the Orthodox world, and is now seeking to extend his influence over the Georgian Orthodox Church.
According to the SVR, Pat. Bartholomew is backing Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) of Western Europe and Metropolitan Gregory (Berbichashvili) of Poti and Khobi as candidates for the vacant Patriarchal throne, describing them within his inner circle as the most suitable instruments of his will.
The statement speaks to Pat. Bartholomew’s substituting of the traditional “primacy of honor” with a “primacy of power” and accuses him of violating the second canon of the Second Ecumenical Council, which prohibits bishops from extending their authority beyond the boundaries of their own region. The SVR draws a parallel with what it describes as similar interference by Constantinople in Ukraine, Serbia, and the Baltic countries.
This is not the first time the SVR has issued such a statement targeting Constantinople. In January, the service published a similar accusation regarding interference in the Balkans, which prompted reactions from dozens of Constantinople-affiliated organizations and dioceses.
The head of the Georgian Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service has rejected the SVR’s claims. Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze told InterpressNews that such interference by another Local Church is “unimaginable and entirely impossible,” and said the basis for the information circulated by the Russian agency remains unclear.
Observers have noted a potential problem with the two candidates named in the SVR statement: one of the bishops in question is already 79 years old, and the other will turn 70 in July, while the Georgian Church’s statutes stipulate that candidates for the Patriarchal throne must be between 40 and 70 years of age at time of election.
On the other hand, Greek media reports indicate that the age requirement and other statute stipulations may not be a settled matter. The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church is expected to convene on Friday to discuss organizational matters related to the upcoming Patriarchal election.
According to sources cited by the Orthodox Times, the meeting may also take up the interpretation of certain articles of the Church’s statute — articles that could affect the eligibility of two other candidates: Metropolitan Daniel of Sachkhere and Chiatura, and Metropolitan Isaiah of Tskhinvali.
Metropolitan Daniel, described by the Greek newspaper Orthodoxi Alithia as a low-profile hierarch with considerable support who is pro-government and not particularly sympathetic toward Constantinople, turns 71 on May 29.
Metropolitan Isaiah of Tskhinvali, 64, is described as popular among Georgia’s faithful and favorably disposed toward Constantinople, though he does not hold a formal degree in theology, while the statutes call for some form of theological education.
Whether the Synod will move to amend or reinterpret the relevant statutory provisions remains to be seen.
Follow OrthoChristian on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe and Gab!
