In a bid to address concerns raised by the Georgian Orthodox Church, changes have been called for regarding an icon depicting Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin that is currently displayed in a cathedral in the capital city of Tbilisi.

The icon, which portrays scenes from the life of St Matrona of Moscow, a renowned Russian visionary and healer, includes a depiction of the Russian Orthodox saint blessing Stalin. However, the Patriarchate of Georgia has expressed doubts about the accuracy of this representation, stating that there is "insufficient evidence" to prove that the saint and Stalin ever met. Consequently, the church is requesting that the donors of the icon modify the image accordingly.

The controversial icon, reportedly gifted to the cathedral by the pro-Russian political party, the Alliance of Patriots, gained public attention this year when former politician Giorgi Kandelaki voiced his opposition to what he perceived as an attempt to portray "one of the biggest mass murderers in history" in a positive light. Kandelaki's protest drew further controversy when an activist recently sprayed the icon with paint in protest.

Speaking out against the glorification of a tyrant, Nata Peradze, who carried out the paint attack, shared her personal experience, stating that Stalin had killed her entire family and instilled terror and fear. Following the incident, Peradze has faced death threats since uploading a video of her act on social media.

Attempting to clarify their position, the Patriarchate of Georgia emphasized that an icon can depict "real stories related to the life of the saint, including rulers and ordinary people, heretics and persecutors of the Christian faith." The statement further clarified that this depiction does not glorify or attribute any dignity to these figures.

Joseph Stalin, a controversial figure in Georgia, was born as Iosif Dzhugashvili in the town of Gori in 1878. His role in the Russian revolution and subsequent tenure as the ruler of the USSR from 1924 until his death in 1953 is widely recognized. However, millions lost their lives due to Stalin's ruthless methods of enforcing discipline and state terror to eliminate perceived adversaries and establish a communist state.

The legacy of the Soviet Union is rejected by many in Georgia, a small South Caucasian country. However, some individuals still hold a sense of pride towards Stalin, as they view his humble origins in Georgia ascending to ruling a superpower and playing a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany.