The Abkhaz Church cannot become independent until the Georgian Orthodox Church gives permission, secretary of the All-Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II said, News Georgia reports.
A meeting was held at the Freedom Square in Sukhumi on Friday. People filed a letter demanding separation from the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The meeting was inspired by a visit of Abkhaz Patriarchy to Istanbul where Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew organized talks.
The letter thanks the Russian Orthodox Church for support after the war in 1992-1993 and expressed hope for further improvement of ties with the Abkhaz Orthodox Church.
Gratefulness was expressed for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the opportunity to start the process of restoring the ancient Abkhaz Orthodox Church through the historic Mother Church of Abkhazia.
