Georgian Elder on the Lavra: Whoever touches the relics will be punished

Archpriest Davit Jishkariani with the UOJ team in Svetitskhoveli. Photo: UOJ

Archpriest Davit Jishkariani, who has served in Svetitskhoveli for 45 years, spoke about the situation surrounding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in an interview with a correspondent of the Georgian branch of the UOJ.

When asked about the legal dispute between the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the status of the Lavra’s churches, the Georgian priest gave a clear answer: “In the churches lie the saints who rest there – they are inviolable. Whoever dares to touch them with his hand – all will be punished, and are punished.”

According to him, the holy relics were placed in the Lavra precisely so that “descendants could see them.” He emphasized that the Lavra holds relics of various saints of different nationalities.

The Georgian priest expressed bewilderment at attempts to restrict worship services in the Lavra: “Why should they interfere with all this?”

To illustrate his position, Dean Jishkariani cited a Georgian proverb: “It is said: ‘A warrior cannot forbid a horse – he starts tearing the bridle,’” implying that when one cannot solve the main problem, they begin to act on something else.

In the same conversation, the priest spoke about the need to strengthen Christianity among the youth and stressed the importance of “mutual respect, friendship, and love” in the Orthodox world.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Georgian priest Shalva Kekelia, insulting the relics of the venerable saints of the Lavra “will not be forgiven by anyone.”

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