From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


ABCUSA: Georgian Baptist Leader Reconciled with Renegade Orthodox Priest


From "SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>
Date Mon, 29 Nov 2004 15:01:01 -0500

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 11/29/04)--The Baptist World
Alliance has reported a remarkable story of reconciliation in the once
oppressive relationship between Baptists and a suspended Orthodox priest in
the Republic of Georgia.

According to the BWA:

"The Rev. Tiflis-Malkhaz Songulashvili, bishop of the Union of Evangelical
Christians-Baptists in the Republic of Georgia, has been reconciled with his
most ardent national foe, the suspended Orthodox priest Basil Mkalasvishvili.
 Mkalasvishvili had been responsible for a public Bible and book burning in
Tbilisi in February 2002 as well as for various violent attacks on Baptist
worshipers during 2003.

"Along with nine of his followers he was now required to stand trial for his
misdeeds....  At the trial the Baptist bishop was invited to take the stand
as a witness. He used the opportunity to lecture for three hours on the
Christian faith, and ended with a demand for the release of the Orthodox
prisoners. According to Songulashvili, mercy must take precedence over
justice. 

"The accused had taken part in the proceedings from within an iron cage. As
an expression of his willingness for reconciliation, the bishop reached
through the cage bars to shake hands with them. He stated that he demanded
neither punishment nor compensation for the material damage. He instead only
expected that Mkalasvishvili bring along a bottle of red wine which the two
of them would drink together once the prisoner had been set free. The
astonished court spectators responded with applause, laughter and tears.
Mkalasvishvili accepted the gesture of reconciliation.

"Until the end of court proceedings, he and his followers will remain in
jail.

"When a few days later in mid-November the Baptist celebrated the 10th
anniversary of his term as bishop, Mkalasvishvili sent along two icons and a
cake as greeting. Songulashvili labeled these the most precious gifts of all.
The supporters of Mkalasvishvili then also participated in a Baptist
anniversary procession through the Old City of Tbilisi."

Most of Georgia's 5.5 million inhabitants are Orthodox; the 5,000-member
Baptist church is the country's largest Protestant denomination.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN135

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org


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