Sukhumi, Abkhazia, March 1, 2021
Photo: rferl.org
Church services have resumed in Abkhazia, although there has been no resolution to the canonical status of the self-proclaimed “Abkhazian Orthodox Church.”
Fr. Vissarion Apliaa, the acting head of the Diocese of Sukhumi and Abkhazia of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which declared itself autonomous in 2009, announced last month that the Divine services would be suspended until His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow worked out a canonical resolution to their status.
The Georgian Orthodox Church responded to Fr. Vissarion’s move, calling it “unexpected and incomprehensible,” as Fr. Vissarion and Abkhazia are recognized as belonging to the Georgian Orthodox Church by the entire Orthodox world, including the Russian Orthodox Church.
However, the political situation is such that Georgian clergy are not allowed to enter the country and pastor their flock there, creating a difficult situation for all involved.
And although the Russian Orthodox Church has not responded to Fr. Vissarion’s call, at least not publicly, it “will help us in establishing an autonomous Church in Abkhazia,” Fr. Vissarion believes, as he told Interfax-Religion today, announcing the resumption of services.
Ultimately, he wants to achieve autocephalous status for the church in Abhkazia, though he recognizes this process will not be easy. “Even in the old days, thanks to Russia’s efforts, Orthodoxy was revived in the Caucasus, and now we hope for the help of the Moscow Patriarchate,” Fr. Vissarion said.
The resumption of the Divine services is sure to be welcome among the faithful in Abkhazia, who told the Caucasian Knot that services should neve be stopped under any circumstances, especially amidst a pandemic and crisis when people need spiritual support.
“I believe priests should serve in despite of everything… They are the conduit between God and men and should bear their cross and endure all the trials given to them. Believers can’t be hostages in some game,” one Abkhazian parishioner said.
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