On October 22, a Threads user disseminated a photo with the caption: “Svetitskhoveli’s entrance today, you can also probably spot a two-headed Russian eagle near this man’s hand.” The image shows a two-headed eagle on a rope stanchion used for marking boundaries in the Svetitskhoveli courtyard, serving as part of the gate. The post’s author also included a picture of the Russian coat of arms, drawing a connection between the two symbols.
Claim alleging that the double-headed eagle in the Svetitskhoveli courtyard is a Russian symbol is a manipulation. This emblem appears not only on Russia’s coat of arms but also dates back to the Byzantine Empire. The Patriarchate clarified that the symbol is unrelated to Russia and was actually acquired in Greece.
The photo shared by the author is a screenshot from a video released by journalist Ninutsa Kekelia on October 12. In the video, the journalist mentions that the cleric restricted citizens from accessing the Svetitskhoveli courtyard. The footage shows a dividing barrier in the area, featuring a two-headed eagle.
A Threads user claims that the eagle is connected to the Russian coat of arms. However, the symbol predates its appearance on the Russian emblem. Generally, the eagle represents power, and its depiction on flags, coats of arms, or in architecture serves as a projection of strength. The eagle was originally chosen by Roman emperors in the age of antiquity as a symbol of their authority. The Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire, as the successor of Rome, adopted this symbol and transformed it into a double-headed eagle. Initially, this symbol represented the Byzantine emperor’s secular and spiritual authority, as well as his dominion over both the East and the West. Following the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Russian rulers adopted the imperial title (with “tsar” derived from “Caesar”) and the double-headed eagle as symbols of their rule.
To clarify the significance of the eagle symbol in the Svetitskhoveli courtyard, we reached out to the Georgian Patriarchate. According to their explanation, “The double-headed eagle is part of a Greek attribute commonly found throughout the Greek Church. It symbolizes the Christian Byzantine Empire, representing the unity of ecclesiastical and secular authority. The eagle, signifying oversight, is associated with the role of a bishop and has no connection to Russia.
The Patriarchate also informed us that the rope stanchion shown in the picture was purchased in Greece and provided a link to where it and other church items can be bought.
The double-headed eagle symbol is used by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
It’s also worth noting that the eagle symbol appears not only on Russia’s coat of arms but also on the flags of other countries, such as Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia.
Zurab Abashidze
Myth Detector Lab
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