Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has announced a landmark agreement with the Orthodox Church to amend the Georgian Constitution, formally declaring Orthodox Christianity as the state religion. Speaking at an election campaign event in Ozurgeti, Western Georgia, Ivanishvili revealed that consultations with the Church had successfully concluded, paving the way for this significant constitutional change.
“The Georgian Constitution will now explicitly reflect the role of the Orthodox Church as the cornerstone of our state’s identity. This amendment will also emphasize the Church’s special role in both the history and contemporary life of Georgia,” he stated.
Ivanishvili noted that while Georgia is historically proud of its tradition of religious tolerance, the unique status of Orthodox Christianity, alongside the homeland and language, is central to Georgian identity. Ivanishvili claimed there are ongoing attacks on the Orthodox Church, describing them as attempts to undermine the nation’s identity.
The honorary chairman also emphasized that the current constitutional provisions regarding religion, in place since 1995, do not adequately capture the significance of the Orthodox Church in the life of the country.
“The proposed amendment seeks to correct this by solidifying the Church’s status and role in the Constitution,” he added.
Ivanishvili expressed his gratitude to the Church and its leaders for their support of this initiative, recognizing their crucial role in preserving Georgia’s identity.
“We are committed to ensuring that Orthodoxy’s constitutional status is accurately reflected, and we are grateful for the Church’s support in this matter. This amendment will further solidify the Orthodox Church’s pivotal role in the life of our nation,” he stated.
