By Vestnik Kavkaza
One of central topics for discussion was autocephaly of Abkhazian Orthodox Church in Abkhazia this year. Today the majority of experts in Moscow and Sukhumi believe that improvement of bilateral relations in the socio-cultural and spiritual spheres could help in settlement of the church clash in Abkhazia. Obviously, the question on the church conflict couldn’t be considered as an internal Abkhazian problem; it is sharply perceived in Russia. The processes happening in Abkhazia are presented by the international mass media as an example of Russian policy in the region.
According to Polina Dolina, observer of ‘Religion and Mass Media’, “the most problematic issues for media covering are always connected with internal church issues. It is a very contradictory and complicated topic which demands deep knowledge in the subject. There are various speculations over the topic. And the situation in the religious sphere in Abkhazia is not an exception. And it influences the country’s image.
Peacemaking in the religious sphere and rejection of confrontation could encourage development of Orthodox tourism, like in Greece, Montenegro, and Cyprus. Moreover, Abkhazia has more chances, as it is a Russian-speaking country and we have historic, family, and personal ties with it.
Probably we should think about founding a mass media in the republic, which could professionally cover the church issue. But the clash has to be resolved, for the negative situation in the religious sphere would change for an objective analysis and forecasts in the religious sphere.”
“We [in Abkhazia] understand that the church issue concerns not only Abkhazia, but also Russia,” Oleg Damenia, head of the Center of Strategic Studies under President of Abkhazia, says. “It is really about information disputes over Abkhazia, and Russia is deeply involved in it. Russia’s concern is understandable. However, there is no simple resolution for the difficult problem. We [Abkhazians] wanted Abkhazia to be a center of pilgrimage for other religions, and we dealt with the question. The issue is about spiritual security of the Abkhazian nations.”
Damenia admitted that ill-wishers can use the problem for establishing a negative information atmosphere. But he emphasizes that Russia which is fighting geopolitically against the West has to take strict steps. It is a geopolitical choice of Moscow. It is our direct duty to secure our territory, but we understand that we shouldn’t be a headache for Russia. Communication between Russian and Abkhazian experts on the issue should be promoted.
Rezo Katsia, Religion Office of the Abkhazian government, is sure that “the religious issue is very important from the beginning of the state’s independence. In difficult moments Russian Orthodox Church always helped Abkhazia with settlement of problems of Orthodox population. But today the topic is over-politicized, especially when there are more than twenty religions in the country and Orthodoxy is only one of them. It is encouraged by insignificant professionalism of many Russian and Abkhazian experts. The role of Orthodox Church should be revived, but without rush. In 1999 a mission was declared in Moscow – to fill Abkhazian churches with clergies. Russian Orthodox Church was ready to play a special role in education of young priests who are clergies of Abkhazian Church today.”
Rezo Katsia is sure “that’s why the conflict between Vissarion and young priests was a surprise for many people in Abkhazia and Russia. Initially it was an internal church issue, rather than the problem of giving New Athos under ROC management, but maintenance of the monastery under the control of a group of young priests. Later there was an address to Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew; it was more a technological step than real opportunity for settlement of the problem. There are many promises, but no certain deeds. Should we have direct contacts with Bartholomew at all? A part of Abkhazian society and the Russian side treat the topic negatively.
That’s how the issue was politicized. It leads to tension not only in the spiritual sphere, but also on the political field of the country. The problem can be solved only by a dialogue with ROC. There is no other way.”
