In response to rising Islamophobia, antisemitism, and xenophobia, Songulashvili introduced the Peace Project, which brought into being the Peace Mosque, Peace Synagogue, and Peace Cathedral, all under the same roof. The project is meant to demonstrate in a tangible way a deep commitment to interfaith peace. The Peace Project was completed and inaugurated in 2022- 2023 in partnership with the “House of One (Berlin) and numerous Jewish, Muslim, and Christian friends of the Peace Cathedral.” Thus, the Peace Cathedral became a unique place of religious peace and inclusion.
With less tolerance in the city, the cross can be seen as a symbol of exclusion in the modern world. The Peace Project creates a space for interfaith relations, where people of different traditions can work together to appreciate one another. The Peace Project brings together the three Abrahamic faiths, similar to the House of One, and establishes them all under the same roof. The Peace Project is meant as a response to the negativity, and is a way to show that different faith groups can coexist peacefully. Several different religious leaders have contributed to this project, including but not limited to: the Global Imams Council, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Rabbis, the House of One, and the Alliance of Baptists.
During fundraising for the construction of the religious buildings, only non‑Muslims could donate to the Peace Mosque and only non‑Jews could donate to the Peace Synagogue. This meant Jews and Christians funded the Masjid As-Salam (Peace Mosque), while Christians and Muslims funded the Beit Knesset HaShalom (Peace Synagogue), encouraging each individual community to support the worship space of the other communities. Rather than a form of passive acceptance, the Peace Project required active financial investment by each faith in the others’ space of faith, creating a spiritual bridge which connects each group together now.
The Peace Synagogue (მშვიდობის სინაგოგა) resides in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is a place of worship focused on interfaith connection and camaraderie. Additionally, it’s a component of the larger Peace Project, which includes a synagogue, a mosque, a cathedral, and a buddhist temple – all under one roof. This was started by Bishop Malkhaz as a way to foster positive relations between different faith communities within Tbilisi. Interestingly enough, the synagogue is the first non-Orthodox Jewish house of worship in Georgia in over 2,500 years and is known for allowing women to read the Torah, which is not allowed in most synagogues in the region. Consultations were made with Sephardic and Ashkenazi rabbis to guarantee that the Peace Synagogue would be an acceptable place of worship for all three branches: the Orthodox, the Reformed, and the Conservative traditions.
The Peace Mosque (მშვიდობის მეჩეთი) is located within the Peace Cathedral and is a space for both the Sunni and Shi’a Muslim communities. As a response to rising anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Georgia, the Peace Project has been instrumental for the 10% of the population (500,000 persons) who identify as Muslim. Muslims in Georgia have been denied permission to build mosques in areas like Batumi due to Georgia’s past conquests from Muslim countries. In the fight for interfaith relations and freedoms, Malkhaz Songulashvili decided to start this project in 2015 in support of those struggling in the community. Sunni, Sufi, and Shi’a clergy consulted in the development process so that the Peace Mosque could be a sufficient space for worship for all Muslim faiths and individuals.
peacecathedral.tbilisi@gmail.com
Peace Cathedral
Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia
6 Spiridon Kedia Street. 0108 Tbilisi, GEORGIA.