The Ecumenical Conspiracy: why does Constantinople need the Georgian Orthodox Church

The Orthodox world is gripped by intrigues. While Georgia is mourning the death of Patriarch Ilia II, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is preparing a plan to strengthen his influence on the Georgian Orthodox Church. He had previously been at the center of church scandals. The most prominent example is the creation of an independent Ukrainian church structure, which led to a deep conflict with the Russian Orthodox Church. What levers Constantinople has and what the struggle for the legacy of Elijah II will turn out to be — in the material of Izvestia.

The struggle for influence

"Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople continues to persistently bend the treacherous line of splitting world Orthodoxy, guided by the principle of 'divide and rule,'" the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said.

The ministry claims that Bartholomew is again interfering in the internal affairs of Orthodox churches. This time, according to the SVR, we are talking about one of the oldest churches in the world, the Georgian Orthodox Church.

"It is obvious that he (the Patriarch of Constantinople. — Ed.), as in the cases of Ukraine, Serbia and the Baltic states, he forgot the second rule of the II Ecumenical Council: "May regional bishops not extend their authority to churches outside their region ...", the press bureau said.

Funeral procession of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II in Tbilisi

Photo: TASS/Mikhail Egikov

The reason for such fears was the death of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. His level of trust in the country has exceeded 85% for decades. It was Elijah II who kept the balance between different groups within the church itself: conservatives, supporters of rapprochement with Russia and those who were oriented towards the West. After the death of the patriarch, the struggle between these forces may escalate.

An attempt on the holy: Lithuanian authorities launched an attack on the Orthodox Church

They want to separate the organization from the Russian Orthodox Church and reassign it to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Formally, the Patriarchate of Constantinople has no authority comparable to that of the Pope. Bartholomew I is considered only "the first among equals." Nevertheless, he still has important tools: he can mediate in disputes between local churches and issue tomos — documents recognizing autonomy or autocephaly. It was this right that the Patriarch of Constantinople used when he recognized the new Ukrainian church structure, which led to a sharp deterioration in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.

For Bartholomew, any allies are important in the fight against the "Russian world," and intervention in inter-church conflicts has become a constant strategy for Constantinople, religious scholar Roman Lunkin tells Izvestia.

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

Photo: Global Look Press/Shady Alassar

— Thus, Bartholomew proves that he is the main Orthodox figure in the world, an arbitrator in disputes between churches. In fact, this is embodied in the fact that all offended clerics turn to Bartholomew for help, and he pretends that he is doing the highest justice," the specialist points out.

Although there is no question of issuing a new tomos in the case of Georgia, Moscow believes that Constantinople can use its authority and connections within the Georgian church to influence the choice of a new patriarch. At the same time, the SVR fears that the Georgian direction may become a continuation of Bartholomew's broader strategy to strengthen his influence on the Orthodox churches of the post-Soviet space.

Candidate for the throne

Ilia II actually helped the GOC to restore autocephaly, political analyst Archil Sikharulidze emphasizes in an interview with Izvestia. According to him, the patriarch became the father of the modern Georgian Church, Georgian Orthodoxy and a symbol of the spiritual rebirth of the country. Few people have left such a large-scale legacy.

— The main challenge for the Georgian Orthodox Church now is not to lose the trust and authority that the church enjoyed under Patriarch Ilia II. It is difficult to say how much the new patriarch will be able to do this, since Elijah II lived in a different era, possessed different qualities and achieved very special results, the expert emphasizes.

Parishioners at Svetitskhoveli Church in Mtskheta

Photo: Global Look Press/IMAGO

Thus, the key question that will determine the future course of the GOC is who will succeed Elijah II. It depends on whether the church will maintain the cautious and pragmatic course of the late patriarch or become involved in a geopolitical confrontation with Moscow.

— We can talk, for example, about the recognition of the Ukrainian tomos, the intensification of anti-Russian rhetoric, as well as an attempt to revise some symbolic issues that have been debated in Georgia for many years. In particular, some pro—Western circles consider the fact that Christmas is celebrated on January 7 to be a manifestation of the "pro-Russian" nature of the church, and advocate a transition to December 25," the source explains.

Participants of the traditional Christmas procession Alilo on one of the streets of Tbilisi. January 7, 2025

Photo: TASS/URA.RU/Roman Naumov

Meanwhile, according to Roman Lunkin, Georgia's interests lie not in a new conflict with Russia, but in maintaining normal relations. In the church sphere, this means maintaining the current situation in which the GOC and the Russian Orthodox Church avoid an open dispute over Abkhazia and South Ossetia and continue to adhere to informal agreements.

The Trial of Faith: how Kiev decides the fate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The UOC has filed a counterclaim against accusations of links with the Russian Orthodox Church

"The issue of the country's sovereignty is closely linked to the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the religious scholar points out. — A lot will depend on how this problem is solved in the church. The Russian Orthodox Church supports the integrity of the canonical territory of the GOC and does not recognize the independence of the churches of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but cooperates with priests in these regions. A peaceful settlement is possible only in the case of finely tuned ecclesiastical diplomacy through compromises.

Panteleimon Cathedral on the territory of the New Athos Simon-Cananite Monastery at the foot of Mount Athos in Abkhazia

Photo: TASS/Valery Sharifulin

However, so far experts are inclined to believe that there will be no sharp reversal. As Sikharulidze notes, Shio (Mujiri) is considered the most likely successor. Back in 2017, Elijah II appointed him locum tenens in case of his death or inability to perform his duties.

— He was educated in St. Petersburg and is well acquainted with the approach on which the modern GOC was built. Therefore, most likely, the new patriarch will strive not for a sharp reversal, but for the continuation of the pragmatic course of Elijah II," the political scientist concluded.