Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Public Relations Department of the Georgian Patriarchate, stated that a number of remarks directed at Metropolitan Iobi go beyond the bounds of Christian morality.
“Following Metropolitan Iobi’s sermon, we have seen certain remarks directed at him that are far removed from Christian morality and language. Moreover, referring to a hierarch in such terms reflects a lack of respect for the Church as a whole. Addressing anyone with offensive words is fundamentally unacceptable for a Christian, regardless of who the recipient is,” the archpriest stated.
As a reminder, Metropolitan Iobi had previously publicly criticized the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party across various areas. This was followed by a campaign from government officials and loyalist commentators, during which the Orthodox hierarch was labeled an “agent” and subjected to insults.