TBILISI, September 20 - News-Georgia. The Georgian Patriarchate has accused the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church of "promoting separatism." The corresponding statement was distributed today by the public relations service of the patriarchate.
On September 16, the press service of Raul Khadjimba published the text of a congratulatory message that the patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill sent him in connection with his victory in the "presidential election" of Abkhazia.
The Georgian Patriarchate notes that the message was not published on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate, however, the Russian Orthodox Church "did not follow the denial of this fact."
“The land of Abkhazia is the indigenous Georgian territory, and it should be perceived only within the unity of the borders of Georgia. This is not even denied by the Russian Orthodox Church and recognizes the jurisdiction of the Georgian Church in this space. Against this background, the actions of His Holiness Kirill are incomprehensible to us and are perceived as encouraging separatism, which hinders the establishment of peaceful relations between Georgians and Abkhazians”, the statement said.
The Patriarchate of Georgia expressed hope that the Russian Orthodox Church "will respect the territorial integrity of Georgia and, based on Christian teachings, will help normalize relations between Georgia and Russia, Georgians and Abkhazians, Georgians and Ossetians."
Πηγή: newsgeorgia.ge
