Georgian cleric says EU asked the Church to promote same-sex marriage

Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Georgian Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service. Photo: SOVA

Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate, has claimed that representatives of the European Union asked the Georgian Orthodox Church to assist in promoting same-sex marriage in the country, reports SOVA.

According to the Georgian Church spokesman, the discussion took place during a 2023 meeting with Belgium’s then foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, who is currently serving as the European Commissioner for Equality.

Jagmaidze said the European official spoke about Georgia’s alleged “lagging behind” contemporary trends because of society’s rejection of same-sex marriage. According to him, she asked the Patriarchate, which enjoys significant public authority in the country, to help promote acceptance of such unions.

The Georgian Church representative also commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament that mentions the Georgian Orthodox Church. He argued that the document reflects the failure of European institutions’ policies toward the Church.

In Jagmaidze’s view, such actions risk strengthening anti-European sentiment in Georgian society.

He added that following the meeting with Lahbib, representatives of European institutions did not visit the Patriarchate for an extended period. However, after the election of Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia, contacts with diplomatic missions resumed.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Shio received representatives of the U.S. State Department.

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