If the Russians threaten us with territory, and foreign countries or the EU say, “We’ll take away your visas and make it harder for you to come,” you blessed ones, don’t you know who we Georgians are? We are not afraid of the Russians, we are not afraid of you, and we are not afraid of anyone!
Archbishop Iakob of Bodbe made this statement during a sermon on the Feast of the Transfiguration.
“Sometimes one conqueror occupies us, sometimes another attacks us, and sometimes something else comes up. Even now, if we look, for example, 20% of our territory is occupied by the Russians, as if they didn’t have enough land already. They’ve occupied 20%, and look at the situation we’re in – they’re waiting for us to take some step so they can advance further, if not entirely, then at least a bit more.
The other alternative – what do we have? We were heading toward NATO and Europe, it was declared, even written into the Constitution, and in return, what do we get? If the Russians threaten us with territory, foreign countries or the EU say, ‘We’ll take away your visas and make the process of coming here harder, whether you implement [certain policies] or we give you something or not.’ Territory on one side, visa-free travel on the other. We won’t give up our territories, let them know that clearly, and we will definitely take our lands back!
They say, ‘Why do you need family values? To put it simply, that’s not a problem for Georgians. Let there be minority propaganda, there’s no danger in that, believe us, and we won’t take away your visas, you’ll have visas.’ Will that help me walk toward God? Let’s think about that. We want what’s good for our nation, and what makes life easier for our people, but not at the cost of betraying God… You blessed ones, don’t you know who we Georgians are? We are not afraid of the Russians, we are not afraid of you, and we are not afraid of anyone!
If we renounce family values, the protection of children from propaganda, we’d be going against Christ and God’s commandments, wouldn’t we? Specifically, we’d be going against the commandment ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ We don’t tell anyone, ‘Live this way or that way,’ so don’t impose your ways on us either. If I have to listen to a minority, the Georgian nation is a minority in the world. We are the only nation that upholds this, we hold it with our teeth, and we won’t give it up. Our history is watching, so please, if you want genuine, true relations with us, we’ll have them too, we know how to value people. What’s good with you, we’ll accept. What’s good with us, we’ll share with you, but we won’t accept what’s bad from you or from any conqueror, ever,” said Archbishop Iakob.
According to him, everyone in the world needs each other.
“We don’t want to end up in harsh conditions like the Afghans or the Ukrainians. ‘We rely on ourselves,’ and we don’t want others to dictate our affairs. May God bless all nations, may there be peace in the world, and I warn once again – those who go against us, look at how those countries are faring. Look and don’t try it! We are not vengeful, but let them fear God and leave God’s nation alone, leave the new Israel alone!” said Archbishop Iakob.
According to him, there is war everywhere, and “because we acted decently, God protected us.”
“There’s war everywhere, yet He protected us. No matter how they try to stir things up, they can’t. Poor things, even here, those who share their views, until they’re all put in prison, probably… And us, what are they planning for us now, I can’t figure out, but everything will be fine with God’s help. I think we Georgians need to realize that we cannot be divided against each other, let’s not play the role of fools and become someone’s toy,” said Archbishop Iakob, adding that “in the past, if they wanted Russian slavery, today we don’t want anyone’s slavery.”
According to him, Georgians will not become anyone’s toy.
“Why do I want relations with powerful empires? So that I can protect my identity and they can help me, and for the rest, what’s universally human, let’s work together. Let’s strive for peace together, but we Georgians won’t become anyone’s toy. To those who are toys—politicians or youth – I ask them to think carefully,” said Archbishop Iakob.
Archbishop Iakob of Bodbe: If the Russians threaten us with territory, and foreign countries or the EU say, “We’ll take away your visas and make it harder for you to come,” you blessed ones, don’t you know who we Georgians are? We are not afraid of the Russians, we are not afraid of you, and we are not afraid of anyone!
