The ruling Georgian Dream party has officially proposed declaring Orthodoxy the state religion. The initiative belongs to the founder of the party, billionaire, former Russian citizen Bidzina Ivanishvili.

"We must consider this proposal in the context that the government wants to further strengthen the role and status of the church," said Patriarchate representative Andria Jagmaidze.

It is known that Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II is against the proposal. In his opinion, Georgia has not reached the right historical moment.

As noted by Father Longinoz Suarishvili, representative of the Press Service of the Patriarchate, the Patriarch had previously been against declaring a state religion, so a constitutional agreement was developed and the status of the church was determined.

Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurda Diocese, Archbishop Nikoloz Pachuashvili stated that if Orthodoxy is declared the state religion, the church will not be able to be independent from the state and vice versa. He believes that such a decision will not benefit the country.