Yesterday, on September 25, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II has met with the students of the Theological Seminary-Academy and other educational institutions.

At the meeting, the Patriarch drew attention to several issues in connection with the latest events. In particular, the arrests that have taken place in these days, the problems with the prisoners’ health, the attitude to the prisoners, the spiritual gravity of sin and other issues. The Patriarch noted that permitted torture and humiliation of prisoners, despite the severity of their fault, is unacceptable.

"It is said that those who did it, who tortured, humiliated, now are trying to justify their behavior, but now they are called butchers. I have repeatedly warned Ms. Kalmakhelidze, asked her to treat with detainees maternally, asked not to torture prisoners. I also warned the other staff of the penitential system, but it seems my efforts were not enough and they go on and do these horrors. There is no excuse to the man who did such things. This is a crime and a great sin before God and the people. We need to know that if a man did something terrible like that, he must repent and if he does not repent, then this would be a grave sin which will be shared from generation to generation. Ancestral sin goes to children and grandchildren. Sin is a cancer. Sin makes man a slave and it is very dangerous when sin gives a person pleasure, when a person becomes accustomed to a life with a sin. Some do not understand the gravity of their sin, even on the contrary, some say that after the elections “you'll see what we will do with you”. There are many new prisoners; all those who actively speak about the issues are arrested. I want to turn to the government that arrested in these days people should be released, as well should be released the prisoners with the health problems. Such actions are the reasons of new confrontation, "- said the Patriarch.

His Holiness said that the Church has raised the issue of the appointment of chaplains in prisons and that the issue is still not resolved. It’s true, the clergy often visit prisoners, but it’s quite another thing when the priest has an official social status in prison and the right of the observer.

"We have repeatedly asked to permanently appoint the prison chaplains, but our request was refused. I want to say that we should not despair. I am sure that the Georgian people will survive and come out of this grave sin, because Georgia - a lot of the Blessed Virgin ", - said His Holiness.