Patriarchate suspends senior cleric over remarks against church hierarchs

The Georgian Patriarchate has suspended Archimandrite Ilia Toloraia from priestly duties after he allegedly insulted a bishop and made defamatory statements against senior Church hierarchs.

According to a statement released by the Patriarchate, the ban will remain in force until Toloraia expresses “genuine repentance.”

“By recommendation of the diocesan commission, the priest of the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral, Archimandrite Ilia (Toloraia), is suspended from priestly service for verbally insulting a bishop and making slanderous statements against Church hierarchs,” the statement read.

Archimandrite Ilia was summoned to the Patriarchate earlier today. The decision follows recent public comments he and Archimandrite Dorotheos Kurashvili made accusing Metropolitan Shio Mujiri of acting in the interests of Russia - claims both have repeated in media interviews.