Metropolitan: The Patriarchate is one of those who want the release of archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze

The Patriarchate is one of those who want the release of archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze, - said Batumi and Lazeti Metropolitan Dimitri.

He said he expected that President Salome Zourabichvili would pardon the archpriest.

“I expected that he would be released after the Synod petitioned for it. His brother's statements about some dialogue with the President is an utter nonsense. This person is a liar. The Patriarch has not met him face to face. He met him in the presence of hundreds of people and this issue has not been discussed. I know the position of the Patriarch, because I personally spoke to him the day before the last meeting of Synod and his initiative was to pardon the archpriest. Next day he raised the issue of pardoning at the Synod meeting. I don't know what happened; the President said she was taking full responsibility. I have twice asked the pardoning of the archpriest to Mr. Margvelashvili as well, when he was President. They promised to pardon the archpriest, but it never happened. The Patriarchate and the Church are one of those who want the release of archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze, because all this has to be over once and for all," said Metropolitan Dimitri.