I think that clerical violence has a long history in the Orthodox Church, just as in other churches. Some may even call it an honorable tradition given the pious mythology that surrounds some of the church councils, like St. Nicolas punching Arius in nose during the first one. The emperor had to send in his "marines" to restore order. Alexandria in particular was noted for the violent nature of her clerics and particularly her monks. Remember the pagan philosopher Hypatia was shredded there by demented monastics. The Patriarch Theophilus incited the burning of the library of Alexandria in 391. Dear old St. Athanasius was a serial inciter of violence during his many intervals of restoration and exile In the twentieth century orthodox clerics were instrumental in inciting progroms against Jews in Holy Russia and in Romania, Orthodox clerics were also active in the Black Hundreds and the Iron Guard. Even today in Russia there are many clerics active in nationalist organizations that espouse violent rhetoric against various perceived enemies of Russia. Finally, just a few years ago monks on the Holy Mountain were attacking each other with crowbars and sledgehammers, so yes, there is nothing unduly odd about monks and clerics running amok in Tbilisi. What little I've managed to unearth about contemporary Georgia, it seems to be that certain nationalistic elements in Orthodox Georgia feel anxeity about both the "westernization" of Georgia and about their government's increasing tolerance of muslim and other refugees into Georgia, particularly Iranian expats. Either way, in my humble opinion, the attitude of their patriarch says in all. As has been observed, a fish rots from the head.
