Abkhazia: religious issues

Alexei Vlasov. Exclusive to Vestnik Kavkaza

Today the Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill and Catholicos-Patriarch of all-Georgia Ilya II will discuss three important topics beyond the inter-church dialogue in Moscow – Russian-Georgian relations in general; reburial from Astrakhan to Tbilisi of two Georgian tsars – Vakhtang VI and Teimuraz II; and the church life in Abkhazia.

The discussion of church problems in Abkhazia has been taking place in the Caucasus mass media and blogosphere for several years. When Moscow recognized Abkhazia independence, the Russian Orthodox Church stated that the Church had its own rules and church borders didn’t change with state borders; so, the republic had to agree on a status of Orthodoxy in it with the participation of the Georgian Orthodox Church. At the same time, Moscow realized that as Georgian priests couldn’t serve in Abkhazia, the Orthodox flock appeared to be abandoned. Abkhazian young people studied and gowned in Russia, and then went to home to serve their people. Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church helped in other spheres as well, such as the reconstruction of monasteries and churches and provided everything which is necessary for divine services. Prior Yefrem (his mother is Abkhazian) was one of the priests who came to New Athos, but a part of Abkhazian clergy didn’t accept “a Russian outsider.” Father Dorotheus (Dbar) headed his opponents. He also studied in Russia, but by that time he had close ties with the Greek Orthodox Church. Dbar stated that they should strive for the recognition of autocephaly of the Abkhazian Orthodox Church by the Patriarch of Constantinople, and later hinted that Constantinople didn’t mind.

In the beginning of 2012 Dabr and his supporters hieromonch Andrew (Ampar) and hierodeacon David (Sarsania) went to Istanbul to meet the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew who supposedly promised to Abkhazian separatists that Ecumenical Patriarchy would do its best to settle the church situation over Abkhazia.

The head of Sukhumi and Pitsunda Eparchy Vissarion (Aplia) tried to impart wisdom to his colleagues: “Patriarch of Constantinople has nothing in common with Abkhazia… Russia guys give their lives here; Russia recognizes us; why should we strive to some other foreign forces? I think it is betrayal.” Father Vissarion was engaged in reconstruction of the church life in the country after the war. In fact not everybody supports him in Abkhazia, but he is right about “some foreign forces.” Patriarch of Constantinople becomes such a force. The idea by Dbar seems attractive for Abkhazia – to be oriented at Constantinople means improvement of Abkhazia’s positions in the international arena and of the European direction of development of the non-recognized by Europe republic. The question is – why does Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as God, need this “European direction of Abkhazia”?

The answer is obvious – it is about extension of influence of Patriarch of Constantinople. Due to him Greek influence is felt in national religious organizations of Albania, Korea, and Estonia. Most probably the first thing that Abkhazia will get from Patriarch of Constantinople will be a Greek Bishop, an outsider, but from Istanbul. People in Abkhazia fear that it will negatively influence local cultural traditions and ties with the Russian church.

Opponents of the idea of following Constantinople mention not only power of the ROC, but also an unstable position of Constantinople Patriarchy which lives for American money. Some say that the money is from Greek Diaspora, others say that Diaspora has many problems without Constantinople… Thus, Abkhazians have grounds to worry about improvement of Washington’s influence on the processes happening in the republic, not only over the church.