A declaration was made in the Novy Afon Monastery in mid-May about the independence of the Abkhazian Church and establishing a new Church institute (previous publications by VK http://www.vestikavkaza.ru/articles/politika/Abkhazia/35946.html).
After Moscow recognized the independence of Abkhazia, the Russian Orthodox Church didn’t recognize the independence of the Abkhazian Church. The representatives of the ROC think that this problem should be solved through dialogue with the Georgian Church, as Abkhazia is its canon territory. Moreover, it cannot be said that religious life is progressing separately from political life. Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill met last year with the chairwoman of the United Georgia democratic movement, Nino Burdzhanadze, who is one of the major opponents of Saakashvili.
The current conflict is full of political aspects too. This burst out in Novy Afon. However, a Georgian trail is hard to find in it. The “splitters” do not agree to settle the Abkhazian Church issue by the ROC through relations with the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The split in the Abkhazian Church became obvious after Vissarion Aplia accused initiators of the Novy Afon meeting of vanity and violation of the Orthodox canons. However, it should be said that attitudes towards Aplia in Abkhazia are ambiguous. Accepting his achievements, his opponents not only blame Aplia for his inability to consolidate the Orthodox people of Abkhazia, but also of a dark past, for example, of a previous conviction.
Ekaterina Tesemnikova. Exclusively to VK.
