Georgia-Russia 31.03.2026 Russian intelligence suggests Ecumenical Patriarch seeks influence over Georgian Church
Tbilisi Share Share The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) released a statement following the election of a new patriarch within the Georgian Orthodox Church, alleging that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is attempting to exert control and is actively promoting Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) and Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili) as potential candidates for the patriarchal role. According to SVR information, the Ecumenical Patriarch continues a “treacherous” strategy aimed at dividing global Orthodoxy, utilizing a “divide and rule” approach. This involves leveraging the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II to install a representative within the Georgian Church who could be reliably supported.
The patriarch is reportedly considering Metropolitan Abraham of Western Europe and Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi, positioning them as key figures to execute his directives. The SVR accuses the Ecumenical Patriarch of meddling in the Georgian Orthodox Church’s internal affairs, mirroring actions observed in Ukraine, Serbia, and the Baltic states. Concerns are raised about a growing desire for power within the Constantinople-based schismatic.
This shift prioritizes “primacy of power” over “primacy of honour,” interfering in the internal governance of another ancient Church, the Georgian Orthodox Church. The SVR cites the Second Ecumenical Council, reminding Bartholomew of the importance of respecting jurisdictional boundaries. Metropolitan Abraham’s age also presents a challenge, as he is ineligible under the Georgian Autocephalous Orthodox Church’s statute, which requires candidates to be between 40 and 70 years old.
Analyst Vakhtang Dzabiradze notes that the selection of the next patriarch is a matter of significant interest, impacting both Georgia and Russia.
Topics: #patriarch #intelligence #ecumenical
