December 2005

What is important

By Presiding Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili
Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

During the last week of the Advent when Christmas preparation reaches its pick in the morning of busy office day I received a telephone call from an elderly Armenian gentleman, Ruslan asking to do  his son’s wedding.

“Which son?”  I asked in a surprised voice. To the best of my knowledge he had only one 28 years old son who had been sentenced for 20 years. I had met him in Tbilisi prison to hear his confession several years ago. Since that he has already been in prison for 8 years, with 13 more years to go. It had to be another son.

“My son, can’t you remembers him, my Sashka. The one you have seen in Tbilisi Prison”, was the enthusiastic answer from another and of the telephone. ”he is marring a girl from Rustavi city and we would like you to marry them in the  prison, immediately after the civil registration”. 

“When do you want me to come?” I asked  Sashka’s father .

“Today at 1 o’clock. We can come and fetch you from the Baptist Cathedral.” he answered.

“But...” I wanted to say that is was impossible for me.  Than I realized that in accordance with our liturgical calendar it was Prisoners week and decided to refrain from saying no.

I started to think how to rearrange my schedule in order to accommodate the marriage in Tbilisi Prison.

I could cancel my lunch. It was not much  a sacrifice  but what could I do with other important appointments? I asked Alex, my assistant to cancel some appointment which in my opinion would give me enough time to go to Tbilisi Prison and come before my other appointments.

I went to the Cathedral in due time, put my clerical vestments on and went in front of the church to meet Saska’s parents,  his bride Nino and their relatives. There were  waiting only Sashka’s parents and relatives. It though it was already bed sign. Bride had got stuck in the traffic jam and she came to the Cathedral with more  than half an our delay. By the time she arrived I was already concerned about my day’s agenda.  Although I still hoped to be back to my office on time to do, what I thought,  more important things for Christmas preparation.  

We drew by two car. It was ugly, wet and cold day. The sky was unusually gray. As we set off the way I was told that we were not going to Tbilisi Prison where Sasha used to be but to Ksani prison which is in 60 miles from Tbilsi. When I learned about it I almost burst in anger. I  felt cheated by Sashka’s father who did not tell me where we were going. Most likely he was afraid that I would not go that far at such a short notice. Perhaps he was right.  Although I did not say a word everybody realized that  I was upset and angry. Usually I can hide my feelings but for that week it was much too much. For a moment  I even thought to stop the car and go to my office since all my plans for the day were going to be ruined. But something stopped me from doing it. I can even tell you what it was. As we drew to Ksani in silence Sashka’s ant Nathela turned to me and whispered in  my ear: “Sorry, Malkhaz, for taking you from your work. We realize how busy you must be. But poor Saska asked us to bring you there. He will be so happy to see you.”

The combination of two words “poor Sashka” almost magically released me from anger.

I realized that what I was going to do was pretty sensible  for  the Advent season. I calmed down and relaxed. Other people in the car also relaxed. Very soon all the passengers in the  car turned into a joyful company of people. On the way to Ksani I learned a lot about Saska’s family, his relatives. I also learned that Saska got known with  the girl  Nino by mobile (hence the one of the wonders of technology!).  They had had their telephone communication for four months and finally Nino agreed to marry him. I can not help admiring her courage. Before saying yes she had to deal with a number of cultural and family issues. Sashka is Armenian . Nino is Georgian. Nino’s parents did not want her to marry  an  Armenian. Nino is 32 years old. Her family did not want to her to merry somebody who is 4 years younger. Sashka is a short slim less handsome chap. Nino is a taller and attractive girl. Her family did not want her to marry somebody who is not handsome...this list can go on and on. But the most dreadful thing about this marriage was the fact that Nino should  wait for 13 years before they can live together. Much to my amazement Nino seemed absolutely happy and cheerful. She was sure God wanted her to make such a decision.  Suddenly a striking thought crossed my mind: she is like Mary, a courageous lady

By the time we arrived to Ksani I was absolutely happy to be a part of this most strange wedding company. We crossed a muddy court yard of the prison end went to the reception room. When we entered it I got surprised to see how clean the reception room windows looked.  Very soon I realized that there were no glasses in the windows and therefore they seemed absolutely clean.  We waited in this ice cold reception room for more than an hour. First we waited for the registrar to come, than we waited for somebody to come and search us... Ultimately having passed a number of iron doors and gates we got to a small room at the end of a long corridor. There was him. Slim, short chap looking at us with bright  hopeful eyes.  Now he seemed to me even shorter and slimmer than last time when I saw him in Tbilisi prison.

Sashka was really happy to see us all. This tiny room has been given for 30 minutes and therefore  we had to do things quickly. After brief homily I asked everybody to squeeze into one corner in order to make some room for bride and bridegroom to stand.  I produced from a sleeve of my frock two candles and started the ceremony of marriage which had to be shortened and adjusted to the space or rather the lack of space. After I blessed them they exchanged their rings and their promises to love and care of each other until the death parts them. That was very moving. There were no flowers, no wedding dress, no children in fanny costumes, no dance, no music, no wine, not even the wedding bed...but it was the real wedding atteneded by Christ’s presence.   The tiny room at the end of the long prison corridor became for all of us the city of Cana where Christ performed his first miracle at the wedding. There in my presence Christ made another miracle he blessed the unusual couple who will have to wait for long 13 years before they can be together.  This is indeed a miracle of love.

“Uncle Malkhaz”, told  me Sashka when I was telling him good buy, ”I want you to hear my confession again, I want to be baptized, I want to have Eucharist.”

When I  was writing this story  I  suddenly remembered that last Sunday I made an announcement in the Cathedral telling the congregation that Christ was in the Ksani prison and we were going to take collection for Christ.  After the service I was asked by our people whether I would go to  Ksani  Prison myself I told them that I had too many important things to do during the week.. How would I new than I would be taken to Ksani Prison like Jonah to Nineveh. What is important? Doing important things or meeting Christ in the suffering and sidelined people?

I hope you will be kind enough to join me in prayer for Nino and Sashka. Can there be another miracle? Can Sashka be set free earlier?

Presiding Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili TSSF

Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

Cathedral Baptist Church

6 Kedia Street

Tbilisi 10054

Georgia

Tel.: +995 32 59 49 86

        +995 32 59 49 87

Fax: +995 32 53 41 72

Mobile: +995 99 28 95 92

Website: www.ebcgeorgia.org

 

October 2005

Lambeth Cross after the Lambeth Lecture

On Wednesday 28 September, the British Georgian Society in London hosted a talk by Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili, head of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, entitled "Religion and Politics in Georgia".  The talk was illustrated, and the Bishop shared with his audience some of the problems faced by non-Orthodox churches in Georgia in recent years.  Bishop Malkhaz was accompanied by Archpriest Basil Kobakhidze, who spoke from an Orthodox perspective. 

By kind permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Williams, this event was held at Lambeth Palace which is a residence of the Primate of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  The conference was attended by British scholars, clergy, journalists, representatives of the Georgian emigrants and students living in the United Kingdom. Georgian Embassy in Great Britain was represented by the Ambassador of Georgia Mr. Kavadze and another Georgian Diplomat. The conference was opened by the chairman of the Georgian British Society Mr. Stephen Nash who used to be the first British Ambassador to Georgia after Georgia became independent after the break up of the Soviet Union.

After the lecture at Lambeth Palace Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili and Archpriest Kobakhidze were invited for the Nikaean Club Dinner by the Archbishop of Canterbury the Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams and Mrs. Jane Williams. 

The Nikean Club owes its origin to the celebration in London in 1925 to mark the sixteenth centenary of the First Ecumenical Council  held in Nicaea in 325. The Club was founded by the Archbishop of Canterbury to commemorate that centenary. The Club has been entertaining guests from Britain and overseas.

The dinner was attended by eighty distinguished guests bishops, priests, scholars, noblemen.

At the end of the dinner Archbishop awarded the Baptist Bishop Lambeth Cross which is usually given to foreign Ecclesiastics who have played a prominent part in the work of promoting fellowship and unity among churches. “we seldom have guests like Bishop Songulashvili”, maintained the Archbishop before awarding the cross, “His involvement in the newly emerged independent society has been exemplary. The Bishop and I have got things in common. Both of us were attending daily Eucharist in the same church while in Oxford.”   The last recipient of the Lambeth Cross before Bishop Malkhaz was Brother Roger of Taize who was murdered in summer 2005.

“I am humbled by the honor I experienced at the Lambeth Palace. I accepted the Lambeth Cross and the recognition on behalf of all my friends and spiritual fathers who have been supporting my ministry for a number of years.” says Bishop Malkhaz after having come back to Georgia. “At the dinner the Archbishop and I got really friendly. We do have a lot of things in common. I am very grateful to my Brother Bishop Stephen Platten who arranged the encounter at the Lambeth Palace. Owing to Bishop Platter relations between the British and Georgian Christians have been well established.”

March 25, 2005

Three Maries and Lenten Violets

Today for you – Westerners - is Good Friday, for us – Easterners- its only the beginning of the Lenten period

We start the Lenten Period with a service at the Cathedral Baptist church with all the ordained ministers and regional bishops present. We repent our sins as a church, as a community, as citizens of the country of Georgia.

It is a tradition of our Church to encourage the faithful to do things we usually do not do. The idea is that by leaving our comfort zone we encounter with the Christ of the Resurrection.

That was the reason  why  I left the capital city of Tbilisi where my home is  and went to East Georgia. It was freezing cold when I arrived to an institution which is called the Boarding School for Intellectually Underdeveloped Children. It is located in 100 kilometers from Tbilisi in  the middle of nowhere. This is an institution with 80 children mainly from socially underprivileged families. That morning I was welcomed by the Director of this institution. He gave me an accommodation on the ground floor of the  semi-ruined quadrangle building of the school. In the middle of the quad there is a beautiful asp tree. I lived there alone as a ghost for three days without having electricity or proper heating. But that was exactly what I had not done before.

I tried to get absorbed into the life of this little community in order to have a better understanding of their life. I had already been to the institution for an hour long visit but this visit of mine was quite different. The director who happened to be a trained philosopher volunteered to introduce me to the children who had already knew about my visit.

We started going from class to class for the introduction. We went to the first class. There were about fourteen children sitting like ruffled up birds. They had a stove in the class but broken windows did not really gave a chance to warm up the room. The teacher was explaining something from Georgian literature. I simply greeted the children and continued my tour to another class. In the next class there was only one child. The wind was boldly blowing through the broken windows. The boy was looking really miserable yet he was sitting calmly at his table. “Why are you sitting alone” asked him the director. The boy stood up and with his head hang  uttered: “the teacher has not come.” Poor child did not realize that he could go to a warmer room. Than we went to the third class. There were about 12 children in the class. I greeted them and was about to leave the class when my eye caught a face of a teenage girl sitting at the front table. The girl was pretending to be very preoccupied with  her work. I felt a very strong desire to speak to her. I did not even realize why.

“What is your name?” I asked the girl.

“Mary” said the girl and looked at me. Under her lower leap I noticed a tiny scar. Suddenly I realized that I was getting nervous? But why? I had a feeling I had seen the scar before. I noticed a queer look of the director.  I realized I was getting inquisitive which might not be appreciated by him.

“Shall we go?” asked me the director.

“May I get known with other children” I asked the director. Somehow I did not want to leave the room without discovering the secret of the little scared girl. In order to avoid some embarrassment I started talking with other children. Than I came back to Mary.

“Where do you came from?” I asked her.

“She comes from Tbilisi” said three or  four girls in unison. There answer made me to think harder. I did not know what else should I say.

“You did not lose your mother, did you?” I asked finally.

“Yes, I did.” Said the girl and turned red. Obviously she thought I had been told about it by the director. Now I thought I was close to uncover the mystery.

“Do you know me?” I asked her.

“ No.” she said shyly, “I do not know you.” Her answer was disappointing but I did not want to give up.

“I am Malkhaz” I said in desperation. She still had no reaction.

“I am Malkhaz from the church.” That was rather silly thing to say because it was self evident that I was from the church (I wore my violet robes and enculpion).  But this combination “Malkhaz” and “Church” together started to work.

“You are from my mothers church! you are from my church!”. murmured the child with tears running on hear cheeks. In a minute I found the girl in my arms tenderly leaning on the enculpion (Bishop’s medallion in the Eastern Tradition) of Mary and the Child on my chest. Needless to say that it was very moving experience. We had lost May from the church almost 8 years ago.

When I saw her last time at her mothers funeral she was about 6 years old.

Little Mary’s mother was a prostitute she came to the Cathedral Baptist church in Tbilisi and became a very committed Christian. She was welcomed and affirmed by the congregation. Mary than was three years old little naughty girl.  She was driving everybody in the congregation crazy. She would manage to escape from the service to claim the roof of the church or run elsewhere.  Some time later Mary’s mother came to my office in tears. She was weeping and was unable to talk for a while. When she calmed down a little she told me that she was diagnosed with cancer and was going to die. Some months later she died. Mary was taken to a rural village by her father who was a criminal.   Three years ago he was jailed and Mary was sent to the Home for Intellectually Underdeveloped children.  Although she is intellectually a very capable girl and dreams to become a doctor.  For three years nobody had came to see her. Even her father stopped calling her since last September. “I was praying that somebody from the church would come and see me” told me Mary later on.

That encounter with Mary was very meaningful to but it was far more meaningful for Mary. “We have never seen Mary so happy for three years” everybody kept saying.”  And indeed she was extremely happy. She was finding million excuses to be next to me all the time for those three days I spent there.

The rumors about  Mary’s discovery by her  “God Father” spread in the community very soon. Mary was bringing her friends and introducing to me. So I got known with a lot of Children.

“These are my friends” told me Mary next morning after the breakfast.” There  names are also  Marys. We are three Marys here.”

“It seems you have a good God father.” said a shorter Mary to my Mary after curiously looking around my room which by that time was full of books and papers. I had brought with me some materials to work out the liturgy for the Easter. But very soon I realize I could not and should not work on liturgy and sermons. There was something more important to do. I had to talk and listent to those children who were eager to be listened to.  

Every single individual is a world and I had to discover all those worlds that were bitterly wounded. The other Mary I mentioned was brought to the home simply because their parents could not feed her. There was the third Mary, 13 years old tall, pretty girl who with no parents, no relatives, no friends beyond the school. She was 7 years old when she saw how her two years old brother was killed by her mother... there were other little friends of our Mary two twin brothers Gocha and Gia, perfectly normal children who where thrown out from their home when they were three years old... There were boys and girls who were sexually abused by adults... children from the divorced families. Obviously I could not listen to everybody’s story but it was clear those children, both mentally handicap and those we call normal, are  bearing enormous pain in their little hearts.

When I was about to leave the community of pain I saw my Mary was writing something  diligently on my table. Another tall Mary asked her what she was writing.

“I am writing the letter to the church” answered my Mary in all seriousness.

“I will write  a letter to the church as well,” said Mary the tall.

“No you can’t. They do not know you”, advised our Mary without even looking at her. Mary the tall was looked disappointed that she could not write a letter to the church and disappeared from the room being very sad. I was busy with packing  and could not go after her. By the time I finished packing Mary showed up again and turned to me with a smile on her cheeks.

“This is for you, father” said she and handed to me a tiny bunch of spring violets and than run away. That was very sweet.

I agreed with the director to bring all three Marys and some boys to Tbilisi for Easter vacations. They are very keen to come and celebrate Eater with us in Tbilisi. Understandably  Mary has already started counting days left till the Easter which for us  comes rather late, on May 1st.

Last Sunday I told Mary’s story to the congregation at the Cathedral Baptist Church. Entire congregation was in teas since they thought we had lost Mary for good. After seven years  the church heard the news from Mary. I also read her letter out loud.

You may like to know what was written in Mary’s letter. I am sure she would not mind if you read it.

“A letter to the Churchians (this would be closest English translation of the word Mary has invented for ‘church members’).

“Greetings to those who know me. I hope you are doing well. I am missing you very much. I love you very much. I was very delighted to be found by uncle Malkhaz. We spoke about you for three days. I love you all, even those who do not know me.  I am looking forward to seeing you soon. Yours, Mary”

Mary has been found. We are determined to help both her and her friends. But there are more than three Marys who need our love and care.

Mary and  other women of the Gospel story went to look for Jesus on Easter morning. Now I have a feeling Jesus is looking for Marys and Gochas, Zuras, Johns and Mohmads...Sometimes they have nothing to eat, sometimes they have nothing to wear on, sometimes they have food and cloths yet they have no love, no care. Why don’t we help Jesus to find them.

Why don’t we leave our zone of comfort to meet Jesus in those children who are not loved or wanted.

To be honest now  I feel I belong more to the community of the Intellectually Underdeveloped Children rather that anything else.

Let me wish you blessed and joyful Easter to you.

Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili TSSF
Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

_______________________

December 14, 2004

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Have you heard a story about three crazy Georgian clergymen in Kiev? No? This is exactly what I am going to tell you.

Since the beginning of the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine I felt an inner call to support the struggle of the Ukrainian people for justice. I did not know how to do it until a friend of mine called me and asked whether or not I was going to be involved in the revolution.

“Of course I am going to be involved” was my answer. However I did not really know what it would mean. How could I afford to go there in the Advent season, the busiest time in the year? I had a lot of things to do: writing articles, preparing Christmas celebrations, writing numerous messages...

How could I go there without even being invited?  I started consulting with my associates about the matter. Much to my surprise everybody had expected that I would go to Kiev.

I made a call to a friend of mine in Kiev who was not supportive of my visit to the Ukraine at all. “What is happening here in the Ukraine is not your business.”, my evangelical friend told me. “Let the politicians play their games.”, he said.  His answer made me upset. I do believe that questions of justice and social fairness are exactly OUR business as Christians. His answer made me determined to support the revolution in Kiev openly. To make a long story short, I soon found myself on the plane to Kiev being accompanied by two Ecumenical friends:  Orthodox Archpriest Basil Kobakhidze and Orthodox Priest Zaza Tevzadze.

It was an absolutely incredible adventure. We went to the revolutionary Ukraine without any concrete plans. The only thing we wanted to do was to support the people who were determined to defend their rights and dignity by peaceful and nonviolent means. At the Airport we were met by Mr Isaiah Chargelishvili a Georgian-Ukrainian whom I had baptized in Tbilisi in 2001. Now he is a rector of the Biblical Institute at the Kiev Central Baptist Church. The same evening we were happily accommodated at a guest room of the Central Baptist Church. In the room there was one single bed and another double deck bed. The Orthodox friends got the double deck bed and I got the single bed.

It was a merry experience to live together in the same room. That gave us a chance to get to know one another  better. We found ourselves to be very different from each other in our way of thinking, acting and reacting. The Archpriest has a very proactive character. He is very energetic and  creative. The priest  has a very slow and shy character and yet he is very deep in his thinking and very calm. I had to keep the balance between the two as we started an adventure beyond our comfort zone.

On the first morning we started exploring the situation in the revolutionary city of Kiev. After having visited the Freedom Square we felt we knew what to do. We decided to make best use of the Georgian flag since it was strongly associated with the Revolution of Roses that took place in Tbilisi, Georgia exactly a year ago. We had the flag but did not have a flagstaff . How can you get a flagstaff in an unknown city?

That was how three Georgian clergymen fully dressed in clerical robes set off  in Kiev looking for a staff for the Georgian flag. We searched in the streets of Kiev walking as quickly as it was possible. The search took about  four hours. Ultimately we found a fishing-rod that we could use as a staff for the Georgian flag. It seemed to us a perfectly Christian development to have  three Christian clergymen with one fishing-rod. After all Christ himself called his disciples to be fishermen for God! 

We spent the following days wearing orange scarves and  marching everywhere with the white Georgian five crossed flag signifying the five wounds of Christ. In the beginning we did not even know what we could expect from the Ukrainians but very soon we realized that we were welcomed and extremely well accepted by them. “Long live Georgia!”, “Thanks for supporting us!”, “Gamarjoba! “(Hello in Georgian!), “Thanks for giving us a good example!” People were shaking and kissing our hands, crowding everywhere where we stopped.

At a certain point Archpriest Kobakhidze protested that among the three of us, I had more of a resemblance to the standard Orthodox clergyman than they did  and therefore I received more hand kissing than they did!  “When we get back home you should give me back all that hand kissing you received because they were meant for us, the Orthodox”, Archpriest Basil Kobakhidze said to me jokingly. On the other hand when people were told that we were a delegation of Orthodox and Baptist clergymen everybody thought that one of the two, either Fr. Basil or Fr. Zaza, was the Baptist Bishop and I was the Orthodox Archpriest. Apparently the long beard has proved to be misleading to many!

During our visit we met representatives of all main confessions and denominations. We had excellent meetings with the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the President of Ukrainian Baptist Union, clergy and leadership of the  Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Ukraine, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Bible Society, students of the Biblical Institute and representatives of Non Governmental organizations .

All the people whom we met were touched by our visit. “We are very grateful that our Georgian brothers came to support us in these days” said President Gregory Komendant of the Ukrainian Baptist Union to the journalists of one of the most popular TV channels in the Ukraine. The journalists had asked him to comment on the visit of Georgian clergy to Kiev. “There are a lot of people who have written to us from the entire world but you are the only delegation of clergymen who have actually come to Kiev to share our struggle” said Fr. Petr, of the Ukrainian  Greek-Catholic Church at the meeting. And indeed we were the only delegation of Christian Clergymen who came to the Ukraine during the revolution.

The highlight of the visit was participation in the prayer rally on the Maidan Nezaliznosti (freedom Square) along with other ecumenical colleagues from different church traditions. Archpriest Bail Kobakidze and I were speaking  to thousands of people who had come to the square while Fr. Zaza was waving the Georgian flag.  We  assured the Ukrainian people of our prayerful support in their struggle for justice and blessed them in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. A few hours later we learned that President Kuchma signed a set of documents safeguarding the future victory of the justice struggle. We  were all relieved to hear this news. 

Before leaving Kiev we wrote the Appeal to the Ukrainian People. In the appeal we wrote the following: “We are delighted to observe the participation of different confessions in the revolutionary events in the Ukraine. The common prayers of all the representatives of different religions, their unity, their call for  nonviolent resistance, makes it clear that by faith we can do things that seem impossible. Revolutionary events in Georgia and the Ukraine proves once again that we as humans can not accept abuse of human dignity, lawlessness, corruption, fraud and the ignoring of the will of people...We believe the Ukrainian People will gain the victory and assume their place among the fellowship of civilized nations.”  The appeal was signed by the three of us. Later on the Lutheran Bishop of Georgia, Andreas Stoekl joined his signature to the appeal. The Appeal was widely circulated owing to the assistance of our newly acquired Ukrainian friends Pastor Yuri Koroluk, a counselor to a Ukrainian MP and Mr. Kozubovski a Christian Magazine editor.

We just come back to Tbilisi being very tired yet very happy be able to encourage others and being inspired by the Orange Revolution.

On December 26 new elections will take place in the Ukraine. We promised our Ukrainian friends and colleagues that we will pray for their elections. On Christmas day at 2 p.m. Georgian time we intend to have a Christmas procession in Tbilisi which will end at the Parliament square where we will have an Ecumenical prayer for the Ukrainian people. Positive changes in the Ukraine will have a positive impact not only on the Ukraine and Georgia but on the entire former Soviet block countries. Nonviolent revolutions are much needed in most of these countries.

We will be most grateful if you can join us in prayer for the Ukrainian elections on Christmas day at 2 p.m. Georgian time. I will be happy to read out your messages on the square if I have them before December 24. Do join us in our prayer.

 Meantime let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. My prayer is that the year 2005 will bring more freedom to the people of the earth, that poverty and devastation is overcome, that the rich share with the poor and the poor enrich the rich. 

Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili TSSF

Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

Click photo to enlarge.

_____________________

December 2, 2004

Dear Friends,

Last  Sunday the Cathedral of the Evangelical Baptist of Georgia in Tbilisi celebrated the 10^th anniversary of my Episcopal ministry. I was ordained exactly 10 years ago by a colleague of ministers led by the Revd Dr. Karl Heinz Walter of the European Baptist Federation.

A lot of people came for celebration: colleagues, ecumenical guests, government members, leaders of non governmental organizations, university professors, international guests.

They spoke about our cooperation and difficulties we have experienced together during these 10 years. Everybody thought that the Baptist Church of Georgia made serious progress during these years and became A bridge builder between the Georgian and Western cultures.

I have also received expellant gifts: Eucharist set, icons, pictures, lovely cards and letters. But I had to say openly in the Church that the most precious gifts I received that day were two small icons (of Christ and the Incarnation) and huge anniversary Cake, beautifully decorated. All of you will be surprised to hear that those gifts were sent to the Cathedral by the renegade Orthodox priest Basil Mkalavishvili who had been outspoken enemy of us and our church for several years. All these was televised on the national TV channel to confuse thousands and thousands of people.  What has happened people ask everywhere. How it can’t be true! This is impossible!  I received calls from Orthodox bishops and priests, ordinary people asking the same question: what does all this mean?

Before telling you what does it mean I should remind you that this particular priest whose name is well known everywhere was responsible for burning the Bibles and Christian books ( including books I have written), for organizing raids on religious minorities in the country, for beating up pastors and priests of non Orthodox denominations, he was the one how attacked the Cathedral Baptist Church in the year 2003  after which President Shevardnadze came to the Baptist Cathedral in order to  apologize for religious violence in the country.

Now let me tell you what has really happened: last week I was called to the court in order to testify against Basil Makalavishvili Old Calendarist Orthodox priest and nine of his followers who have been in jail since March. The court room was full of Mkalavishvili’s supporters. I came to the court building  along with the Revd Merab Gaprindashvili, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Baptist church of Georgia. I spoke for three hours about real values of Christianity, about ecumenical movement, important of the religious liberty for everybody...

All the people the judge, the prosecutor, layers were most attentive, asking questions about differences among Christians, about distinctive features of the Georgian Baptist Church. 

Everybody was very nervous they did not know what would me my concluding word. At the end of my speech the judge asked me what I was demanding. “what do you wish for them?” asked me the judge. “I demand that these people are pardoned and released from the prison” was my answer. Everybody was shocked. The Mkalavishvili’s lawyers could not believe to their ears. “Do you really say that you want to forgive them everything including the material loss?” asked one of the Makalavishvili’s defender. My answer was “yes” we were giving him absolution without conditions. I had to explain that was the nature of the Christian love and forgiveness. Since the defender was not sure whether I understood his question correctly I added: “I do not demand anything from them except the red wine which we will drink together when they are set free.” The room burst in laughter. 

Than ignoring court rules I rushed to the cage where the prisoners and shacked hands with all nine prisoners including Fr. Basil Mkalavishvili. That was one of the most moving experience in my life. People were crying, clapping hands, weeping... When I was leaving the crowded room a small boy made his way to me through jamming group of adults. He grabbed a sleeve of my frock and told me with grateful voice: “Thank you Bishop!”. I turned to the child and blessed him by laying the hand. Later on I was told that he was Basil Mkalavishvili’s grand son. The same evening I received a message from the prisoners saying: “even if we are not realized from here we will be ever grateful to you.”  That was the miracle of reconciliation.

A few days later I wrote a letter to the  President of Georgia explaining some religious and political reasons why I  think they should  be set free. (If you are interested in my arguments I can send you a copy of my letter to the President.) 

That was why I received cake and icons on behalf of the former enemy last Sunday. After the service all of us went to the old capital of Georgia together with the parishioners from Basil Mkalavishvili’s church. All of us enjoyed traditional Georgian table and the cake at the end of reception.

I wish all of you were there with us.

Hope you agree that the cake was the best gift I received that day. I Do thank the Lord for all the wonders of the life. I also thank you all for all your support and prayers in those days when we were persecuted by the renegade priest who has been turned into our friend. In the past we were praying that Mkalavishvili was arrested now we are praying that he is released from the jail.

Malkhaz

Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili TSSF

Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

Cathedral Baptist Church

6 Kedia Street

Tbilisi 380054

Georgia

Mobile: +995 99 28 95 92

Webside: www.ebcgeorgia.org

 

 

Oct. 5, 2005

You will be pleased to hear that on September 13, the Cathedral Baptist Church in Tbilisi hosted Ecumenical Prayer Service in Memory of Terrorist attack of September 11th and Beslan  massacre. In the beginning of the service  Georgian firemen in full uniforms and children  entered the Cathedral Baptist church in procession.  They layer flowers at the alter and lit candles in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks. 

During the service prayers were offered by Orthodox (Archpriest Basil Kobakhidze, Mr. Nikolas Inasaridze and Mrs. Lela Jejelava), Evangelical Lutheran (Bishop Andreas Stoekl, Pastor Gary Azikov), Evangelical Baptist (Bishop Mallkhaz Songulashvili, Pastor Merab Gaprindashvili).

The service was also attended by the Gazi Ali Aliev, Spiritual leader of Georgia’s Muslims. At the end of the service he delivered a brief yet very meaningful message condemning violence and terrorism in the name of religion. The chief Rabbi of Georgia, Abraham Michelashvili also came to the Cathedral before the service and left his message to be passed on to the participants of the service.

In the service Bible readings were done in Georgian, Ossetian and English. The Gospel in English was read by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Georgia, Mr. Denny Robertson. 

The sermon was delivered by Archpriest Kobakhidze. Remembering the firemen who died in New York and Beslan, the Archpriest turned Georgian firemen saying: “You should never say that your have jobs as firemen but rather a ministry to save lives of others.”

Prayers of repentance were offered in Georgian, English, Armenian, Ossetian, Chechen and Azerbaijanian languages. At the end of the service Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili and Archpries Basil Kobakhidze gave newly published Georgian Bibles to the firemen and a widow of a fireman killed during the civil war in Tbilisi.

At the end of the service before the benediction Christian  Bishops and clergymen, Muslim leader, firemen and children all planted the Tree of Hope in a large clay pot.

There were tears and weeping at the service but there was also the spirit of unity and fellowship, sincere longing for the peace and harmony on the earth.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili TSSF

Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia

Cathedral Baptist Church

6 Kedia Street

Tbilisi 380054

Georgia

Mobile: +995 99 28 95 92

Webside: www.ebcgeorgia.org

 

Dec. 1, 2003

"We are missing your endless stories", told me sometime ago Sister Mechtild Schroeder, former superior of the Bethel Diaconical order in Berlin.

 It is true I have not been writing reports recently like I used to do in the past. This is not because there are not any more stories to be told, but because they are too many. But now I think I have to tell you at least one story.

Today, Monday 24th we had a prayer service along with other ecumenical collegues.

We planed this service together on Friday with Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox bishops and clergy. On Friday we agreed to have a prayer for peace and reconciliation but when we got to the Church this morning we all agreed that this team of peace was not relevant today. Not because peace and reconciliation was not needed any longer but because we realized that we had to thank the Lord for all the changes that took place from Friday to Monday.

We thanked the Lord for the bloodless resolution of the political crisis that had been going on for a couple of weeks. President Shevardnadze resigned from his post.

There was incredible joy and celebration in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi. People were singing and dancing, drinking and enjoying themselves.

The Baptists of Georgia had been actively involved in the revolution which is now been called the Revolution of Roses (supporters of opposition broke into the parliament chamber with roses instead of guns). They gave hot drinks and food to the demonstrators in front of the Parliament building by night when it was getting cold. They participated in the demonstrations, in the non-violent takeover of the Parliament building and the State Chancellery. One of the Baptist political activists, Miss Lela Kartvelishvili, member of the liturgical committee at the Cathedral Baptist Church, was even injured in the course of Parliament Building takeover. We are rather proud that the Baptist flags (this is the dark red cross with five crosses - signifying five wounds of Christ - on the white background) were also flown on the freedom square in Tbilisi. I myself visited demonstrators and their leaders while delivering hot drinks for the freezing people. I have also made a couple of statements on TV about the role of the church in the time of turmoil and national crisis. "Please do pray also that the Lord is granting wisdom to President Shevardnadze to make a right decision", told me the opposition leader, Mr. Zurab Zvania in one of the nights before the revolution.

Pro-governmental forces were furious because of our involvement in the revolution. Mr. Sulkhan Molashvili of the State Control Chamber has made a statement on TV that "one of the main ideologists of the national movement in Georgia is Malkhaz Songulashvili, the Baptist Bishop". The chairman of the Laborist party Mr. Shalva Natelashvili has also criticized me for our involvement in the relief work during the upraisal. But all this happened before the resignation.

I consider the President's resignation as a positive development for the following reasons:

1. The bloodshed, which seemed to be inevitable, has been avoided. The credit for this should be given to the ex-president who amazingly managed to refrain from such a decision. He had warned the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Army not to use any weapons against the peaceful demonstrators under any circumstances. It is to be mentioned that there were some forces in the country that were pushing the President in this direction.

2. The events of November have brought confidence to the people of Georgia. Now we realize that we may raise our voice against injustice without violence. We experienced the power of non-violence opposition. For us, the people of Caucasus this is something entirely new.

3. The change which came along with the resignation of the president will certainly promote greater democracy in Georgia therefore it will also promote religious liberty. The fact that there will be parliament elections anew is an enormous encouragement for us. In accordance with the results of the falsified elections more than 50% member of the Parliament would be hardliners, including Mr. Guram Sharadze and others who had been openly supporting religious terrorism. We still do not understand how could President Shevardnadze promote such people through the Governmental Party list!

4. Everything started when the results of the Parliament elections of November 2nd were shamelessly falsified. But it was not the only reason why the people of Georgia marched in demonstration to the capital city of Tbilisi. They had been fed up with years of poverty, corruption, hypocrisy, social injustice, unfairness, communist manner of doing things, violation on human rights and religious liberties. The people had kept silence for more than ten years. We were told that we had to wait a little bit more for wishful prosperity. In reality it was only the people of the Government and the Parliament who have been becoming prosperous while the poor have been becoming poorer. The revolution may help us to get rid of our slavish legacy from the communist past when you were not supposed to question authorities above you. You were not supposed to defend you rights.

Now we pray that the presidential and parliament elections are announced in due course of time and carried out fairly. Georgia deserves fair elections. Baptists of Georgia are determined to participate actively in the national life of the country.

I have to maintain that the revolution is not ideal way for promoting democracy. But there are certainly some circumstances when the non-violent revolution can be helpful. I do understand the immediate future of the country is not going to be easy. It will not be easy for us, Baptists either. But there is a hope that something good may emerge out of our suffering and fight for establishment of civil society, democracy and religious liberty.