Metropolitan Iobi: Today, we see that our government lacks faith - We must sound the alarm because things cannot continue this way - This government has completely exhausted its potential

Metropolitan Iobi (Akiashvili) of Mroveli-Urbnisi has stated that Georgia’s current government has “completely exhausted its potential.” He made the remarks during a sermon, which was published on the Diocese’s social media page.

According to the Metropolitan, “the alarm bells must be rung” because the situation cannot continue as it is. He said that, as is customary around the world, governments change, and Georgia should also choose a better government in the future, arguing that national interests are no longer being felt in the country.

Metropolitan Iobi also described the government as lacking faith.

He also spoke about relations between the government and the Church, alleging attempts to merge the two institutions.

“Today, what do we see? We see that our government lacks faith and is not guided by the Church. There is currently an attempt to merge the Church and the government. What does this mean? It is reflected in the fact that the government provides funding to the Church. When members of the clergy become accustomed to comfort, it becomes very difficult to acknowledge the truth. It becomes very difficult for a clergyman to act according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and we are convinced of this.

“I will not speak about everyone, but today the majority of clergy have come to resemble public officials in terms of their living conditions and the services they receive. It is difficult for the congregation to understand when you preach about hardship, tell people to endure poverty and help others, yet you do none of these things yourself. How, then, can the congregation, your spiritual children, take your words to heart? Through this merger with the government, a large caste-like structure has emerged in Georgia. This must not happen under any circumstances,” the Metropolitan said.

Metropolitan Iobi also addressed the issue of high-ranking clergy, saying that senior Church leaders cannot speak the truth today because the Church is primarily funded by the state.

In his sermon, he stressed the need for transparency in Church funding and said that members of the congregation should know how every penny is spent.

“Our senior clergy cannot speak the truth today. They cannot express their position on current developments because the Church is primarily funded by the state. Fine, let the state provide funding, but it must be transparent. Every member of the congregation should know where the money is spent, where every single penny goes and what it is used for. Some may say that everything is transparent and visible, but in reality, that is not the case. We know a great deal about what happens behind the scenes. Therefore, we must not turn a blind eye to certain things,” Metropolitan Iobi said.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Iobi spoke at length about the challenges he believes Georgia is facing today. He also argued that everything is being sold under the guise of peace.

“We know what the previous government did. That is clear. The nation voted it out. The people chose to replace it. But the current government also has many shortcomings. Among them are the spread of drugs, with a very large proportion of young people becoming drug addicts, and the rise of gambling addiction through the establishment and promotion of casinos.

“His Holiness was right when he said that not every means of becoming wealthy is acceptable. Wealth acquired through any means will also bring punishment from God.

“We must do everything possible not to allow this to continue. We must speak out against certain things. We have the life of John Chrysostom as an example. He openly criticized the emperor and the empress. But who turned against him? It was the high-ranking clergy who were close to the government. The emperor used them against John Chrysostom.

“We must learn from the examples set by the lives of the saints. Many worthy bishops were expelled from the Church precisely with the assistance of bishops who were close to the government. We must not become too close to those in power.

“You know that it was under this very government that the anti-discrimination law was adopted, against which His Holiness, the late Patriarch Ilia II, spoke from the pulpit, saying that lawlessness must not be legalized. It must not happen. He also called for an end to the sale of land. Neither the king, nor the government, nor the Patriarch has the right to sell Georgian land. Land is being sold, meaning that everything is being done under the guise of peace. Everything is being sold.

“Yes, this government has maintained peace, but there are other issues. We see young people leaving the country for abroad, villages becoming depopulated, while people from other ethnic groups are entering Georgia.

“Let us address the demographic situation. What is happening in Georgia? Deaths outnumber births. The increase is particularly noticeable in regions where non-Georgians and non-Orthodox Christians live. If we look at statistical data, we will see that the figures are almost evenly split. Half are Georgians and half are people of other ethnic backgrounds. If we also include those who have changed their surnames, Georgians may even find themselves in the minority. If this continues, we could become a minority within a few years.

“This attitude and the failure to listen to the Patriarch remind me of what happened before the State Security Service recordings were released and made public. That, too, was done deliberately. It was a stab at the Church, an attempt to destroy it and damage its reputation.

“Before those recordings were released, Bidzina Ivanishvili came forward and said that the Patriarch could be criticized because he was also human and could make mistakes. The release of the State Security Service recordings followed. What was the result? Many people became disillusioned and stopped attending Church.

“We were then promised that the officials responsible for making the recordings public would be identified. But who investigated the matter? Does anyone know who published all this? We do not know.

“Some may say: Did you not bring this government to power? Did you not support it? But, as I said at the beginning, we chose the better option among worse alternatives. However, no one is infallible, neither those in power nor individuals. If we do not point out the government's mistakes, they will not understand them when others do so.

“The grace of the Holy Spirit dwells within us, among the clergy, and only a clergyman can fully understand, interpret and analyze events. We are not acting out of hostility. Of course, many good things have also been done in Georgia, but the consequences are disastrous.

“The alarm bells must be rung because things can no longer continue this way. We have also become convinced that this government has completely exhausted its potential. Just as governments change around the world, we must choose a better one in the future. This is because national interests are no longer being reflected in the country.

“They have become preoccupied with economic growth, claiming that the country must become economically stronger. But the question is: Why are so many apartment buildings being constructed? There is a construction boom in Georgia. For whom, if our population is not growing? Who is supposed to move into these buildings? People from other ethnic groups?

“There are programs aimed at the destruction of a nation through the mixing of different ethnic groups and the replacement of its population with people from different cultures.

“Why not create jobs and employ young people? Why not provide incentives for families? Why not introduce a benefit of GEL 1,000 for the birth of a third child and provide housing for large families? These measures could be implemented. We are a small country.

“We boast that Georgia's revenues have grown to nearly GEL 100 billion. But who benefits from this? You can see what is happening.

“Corruption is flourishing, and there is widespread bribery and illicit dealings. They are making arrests, and almost the entire government is in prison – the president, the prime minister, the defence minister and the head of the State Security Service. Other neighbouring countries are laughing at us and mocking us.

“We have lost territories, and no one is raising their voice. Davit Gareji is our second Jerusalem. And what is happening in connection with those Arab cities?

“Now we have also been told that plans are being made to introduce donation terminals in churches, requiring people to make donations through them. This, too, would amount to control over the Church. They want to monitor how much money is donated to the Church and who makes each donation,” the Metropolitan stated.