Monks detained in Georgian village after conflict with law enforcers

In the Georgian village of Salkhino, five persons were taken to the police after refusing to leave the monastery and rendering resistance to law enforcers. Other excommunicated monks stated that they would not leave the monastery territory either, despite the demands of the Patriarch's secretary.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the conflict in the Chkondid diocese escalated in March, when believers, dissatisfied with the appointment of Metropolitan Stephen as the head of the diocese, tried to break into his residence in Martvili. During the jam, several journalists fell down from the balcony; in total, 10 people suffered.

The conflict aggravation was triggered by was the decision of Metropolitan Stephen to prohibit for two priests to conduct divine services; earlier, they refused to conduct services with the new Metropolitan.

On November 4, the excommunicated monks' term of stay in the monastery expired; Metropolitan Stephen banned 15 monks from performing divine services a few months ago.

Prior to that, several monks refused to obey the Metropolitan Stephen of the Chkondid diocese for two months.

Let us remind you that on April 25, in the village of Salkhino, a brawl broke out of supporters of Metropolitan Stephen with those of his predecessor, Bishop Peter Tsaava.

Peter Tsaava, the former Metropolitan of the Chkondid diocese, was defrocked on October 31, 2019, after he reported the spread of homosexuality among priests.

Tsaava's claims about sodomy among priests were regarded by Giogri Gakhariya, the then Georgian Prime Minister, as an attempt to destabilize the situation in the country.

Ramaz Sakvarelidze, a political analyst from the "Club of Independent Experts", has not ruled out that there are adherents of different political viewpoints among Georgian priests; and Peter Tsaava's statement about gay priests could be a continuation of this political struggle.