The Patriarchate of Georgia responds to Deacon David Isakadze’s statement that God punished Shovi because of the festival.

According to the released statement, Patriarchate distances itself from with the statements of Isakadze and other clergymen regarding the causes of the tragedy in Shovi.

“Deacon David Isakadze and some clergymen defining the specific cause of the tragedy in Shovi is their personal opinion, from which the Patriarchate distances itself and, at the same time, once again calls on the clergy to refrain from wrong assessments regarding such painful and difficult topics.

Once again, we express our sympathy to the family members and relatives of the deceased and those who are still missing, and we ask God to give them spiritual strength and to grace those killed as a result of the natural disaster with the kingdom of heaven”, - reads the statement.

David Isakadze connected the disaster of Shovi to the mountain festival held in Shovi a year ago.

As Deacon said, during the mentioned event “this holy place was desecrated and the place was directly punished”.