News

The Sukhumi-Abkhazian diocese seeks to join the Russian Church

Sukhumi, September 5, Interfax - The Abkhazian Church wants to be self-governed Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, administrator of the Sukhumi-Abkhazian Diocese Fr. Vissarion Aplia told journalists.

Orthodox believers of Abkhazia asked the Moscow Patriarchate for it "more than once before, but the republic wasn't recognized and it was the main obstacle for settling the question," he noted.

"We were in a very hard situation after Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1992-93 and it was the Russian Orthodox Church that extended help to the Abkhazian Church, though we asked the whole Orthodox world for help," the diocesan head said.

"Today when Russia recognized Abkhazia's independence, we intend to ask for settling this question again," Fr. Vissarion further said.

The Russian Orthodox Church stated late in August that though Russia had politically recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it didn't mean changes of canonical territories of the Moscow and Georgian Patriarchates.

"The political decision has been taken and we must respect it because it is based on the unanimous opinion of MPs from both chambers of the Russian parliament," deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax-Religion.

However, the priest further said, "Political decisions don't define church jurisdictions and spheres of pastoral responsibility. These questions should be settled canonically in course of dialogue between the two (Russian and Georgian -IF) Churches."

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• 'God Kuzya' accomplices detained in Moscow 17 January 2020, 17:59
• Sword seized from Yakut shaman returned 17 January 2020, 17:58
• Task of Jewish community is address help to people - Rabbi Lazar 16 January 2020, 20:43
• New U.S. ambassador to Russia prefers ice hockey to ice-water dips 16 January 2020, 18:18
• Russian Church praises Putin's attention to traditional values of Russians 15 January 2020, 17:49
• Georgian patriarch becomes godfather to another 500 children 15 January 2020, 15:06
• The Russian Orthodox Church official believes Stalin could have become a good bishop 13 January 2020, 19:36
• Russian Church predicts further schisms in western Protestant Churches 13 January 2020, 16:32
• Russian Church believes churches are good for making Orthodox acquaintances 13 January 2020, 14:10
• Russian Orthodox Church sees dangers in reduction of marriage age in Russia 13 January 2020, 14:05
• The Russian Church expects Putin will refer to health care and education in his yearly address 13 January 2020, 13:55
• Filaret recalls signature under UOC-KP liquidation 13 January 2020, 10:06
• Jehovah's Witnesses' activities shut down in Murmansk 30 December 2019, 21:02
• Putin sends Christmas, New Year's greetings to European leaders 30 December 2019, 19:14
• ROC calls for protection of rights of Orthodox Christians in Montenegro 30 December 2019, 16:04
• Georgian patriarch, cardinal from Vatican discuss challenges faced by Christian world 30 December 2019, 11:11
• Over 100 'program' churches built in Moscow over 9 years 27 December 2019, 19:56
• Patriarch Kirill ceases liturgical commemoration of patriarch of Alexandria for recognizing new church of Ukraine 26 December 2019, 16:45
• Leader of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vologda detained in extremist organization probe 25 December 2019, 19:46
• Russian Jews agree with Putin's opinion on Polish ambassador who supported Hitler 25 December 2019, 17:51
• Cassation court posthumously acquits Orthodox dissident Shchipkova 40 years after sentencing 25 December 2019, 16:16
• Patriarch Kirill on Christmas Day calls on Pope, other Christian leaders to combine efforts to help people affected by armed conflicts 25 December 2019, 15:25
• Some 64% of Ukrainians don't support shifting Christmas celebrations to December 25 - opinion poll 25 December 2019, 11:53
• Russian Orthodox Church could open parishes in Africa if Patriarchate of Alexandria sides with Ukrainian schism - Metropolitan Hilarion (updated) 24 December 2019, 21:48
• U.S. Department of State report on freedom of religion in Russia not worthy of attention - Russian Orthodox Church 23 December 2019, 13:52
• Patriarch Kirill's ex-press secretary appointed to new position 20 December 2019, 16:19
• Russian Orthodox Church Synod to make decision on Patriarch of Alexandria after his recognition of OCU next week 20 December 2019, 14:51
• Six Jehovah's Witnesses convicted in Penza 13 December 2019, 16:23
• Rosobrnadzor bans acceptance of students to seminary of Evangelical-Lutheran church 13 December 2019, 11:38
• Patriarch Kirill calls to continue fight for Orthodox unity in 2020 12 December 2019, 10:04

Other news