On 11^th of July 2011, the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of All Georgia adopted a decree giving with it the answer on all of the possible issues and challenges that arose before the church in connection to the status of religious organizations and other current issues. On the same day, the resolution of the Synod was presented to public.

At the same time, it was clearly stated, that the meeting unanimously adopted a resolution on these issues and there were no disagreements between the priests. Despite this, several times, through various media types were published the unrealistic, falsifying the facts and publicly discrediting materials, according to which some members of the Synod opposed the Catholicos-Patriarch and by such position they betrayed the Patriarch and the interests of their country.

In response to this defamation, on 24^th of July 2011, the Patriarchate of Georgia released a statement which clearly indicated that these published materials do not correspond to reality.

Despite this, the re-publication of defamatory materials continues, because of what, we think that we are dealing with the beforehand planned campaign against the church, which passes under the guise of benevolence toward the Catholicos-Patriarch, the Holy Synod and the homeland, but in reality its purpose is the discreditation of the church, the emergence of conflicts between the priests and the achievement of the hidden agenda of campaign makers.

The question arises - to whom all this is profitable? We would like to clearly state: at the meeting of 11^th of July, between the members of the Synod there was the difference in opinion just in a less important procedural question - whether members of the Synod should listen to specially invited lawyers. The majority supported the proposal to listen to them and on the basis of this decision - the Synod members have listened to all the invited experts. After that, the secular persons (invited experts) left the courtroom and the bishops, after discussion, unanimously adopted a decision with which the public was familiarized on the same day.

We would like to underline once again, that at the meeting of the Synod there were no opposing views and a decision was taken unanimously. But to those, who directly or indirectly are involved in the smear campaign against the church and clergy, we once again remind, that the violation of the Commandment of Our Lord - "Do not bear false witness against thy neighbor ", is a grave sin and we, with the paternal love, encourage them to repent in time and to stop their participation in this campaign.

In a given situation, we give the blessing to spiritual sons of the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Church, that the debates around the adopted by the Holy Synod decree should be stopped and every person, for whom the unity of the Church is precious, must renounce a smear campaign aimed at defamation of the clergy and the church. We hope, that every Orthodox Christian with all the responsibility will treat the blessing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the decision of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Apostolic Church, otherwise it will not benefit our country.

05/10/2011

Ilia II

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia