In Tbilisi, thousands protest over desecration of Matrona Icon
A rally in front of the Georgian parliament. Photo: newsgeorgia.ge
On January 13, 2024, around three thousand members of the "Conservative Movement" held a massive protest demanding harsher punishment for the woman who splashed paint on the icon of St. Matrona of Moscow with an image of Joseph Stalin in the Trinity Cathedral. This was reported by News Georgia.
Participants of the rally demanded that the case against the woman, charged with petty hooliganism, be reclassified as a criminal offense.
"We gathered here with a specific demand, and that demand is justice. We demand punishment for everyone who treats our Mother Church in a way that crosses the line," said Zurab Makharadze, the leader of the movement, during the protest.
After the conclusion of the rally, activists headed to the Trinity Cathedral to pray at the icon of St. Matrona.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Patriarchate called on the clergy and believers not to participate in the demonstration near the parliament, as it "might escalate into a political or destructive form."
It was previosuly reported that the Matrona of Moscow Icon with Stalin was splashed with paint in a Georgian cathedral.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.