Zviad Dzidziguri, the representative of the ruling party and the vice-speaker of the parliament of Georgia develops the narrative of Nino Burjanadze, the leader of the pro-Russian party “Democratic Movement-United Georgia”, regarding then newly granted autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church. Like Nino Burjanadze, Zviad Dzidziguri also tries to demonstrate that recognition of the autocephaly of Ukraine by Georgia can cause threat to Georgia and therefore, is not advisable. Specifically, on January 16, Zviad Dzidziguri, in the comment posted on the website of Georgian public broadcaster, mentions, that
The statement by Zviad Dzidziguri, as if the recognition of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church is not reasonable because Russia will recognize the Abkhazian and Tskhinvali Churches is a manipulation, because 1. The recognition of independence of the Abkhazian Church by the Russian Patriarchate cannot be canonical. 2. The Russian Patriarchate has been controlling and managing the Diocese of Abkhazia for years already and the recognition of independence of the Abkhazian Church by them is a mere formality.
1. Recognition of the independence of the Abkhazian Church by the Russian Patriarchate will be noncanonical, as only the Constantinople Patriarchate has the prerogative to grant autocephaly.
Recognition of the independence of the Abkhazian Church by the Russian Patriarchate will be noncanonical. Only the Constantinople Patriarchate has the prerogative to grant autocephaly. Having statehood represents one of the criterias for granting autocephaly and Abkhazia is the integral part of Georgia,temporarily occupied by Russia.
2. The recognition of independence of the Church of Abkhazia by Russia can be only a formality. The Abkhazian eparchy has been ruled by the Russian Patriarchate for years.
The Moscow Patriarchate has been openly interfering in the work of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia Eparchy and even rules it for years.
- All churches located on the territory of occupied Abkhazia (except the New Athos Monastery) are controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate.
- The Moscow Patriarchate has sent about 15 priests to Abkhazia the majority of whom (with the exception of one priest) had been ordained by the Patriarchate.
- The Eparchy of Abkhazia is ruled by Russian Bishop of Maikop and Adygea
Also, Russian Patriarchate does not fully recognize the title of Patriarch of Georgia. From the full name of Ilia II, the Russian Patriarchate leaves out the title of “Metropolitan Bishop of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia”. Official website of the Russian Patriarchate, within the biography of Ilia II’s, mentions the Patriarch of Georgia as “Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, His Holiness and Beatitude.”
See more information on t Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church in Myth Detector`s material :
Russian Patriarch does not recognize Ilia II as a Metropolitan Bishop of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia
