Georgian Gov’t Silent over Ukrainian Church Autocephaly
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, January 9
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has not commented over Georgia’s position regarding the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, obtained on January 5, 2019, when World Patriarch Bartholomew signed the Tomos.
Bakhtadze said that “there are some canonical relationships” which define such issues.
“Our Church has already made a comment regarding this issue which was quite clear and that is all,’ the PM added.
Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze noted that Georgia and Ukraine have very close ties.
“We will talk with our Patriarchate and the Patriarch and then we will voice our messages,” he added.
“We have a very close relationship with our Ukrainian friends. Ties between the parliaments are especially tight, we have constant communication,” he noted.
Georgian Orthodox Church has not congratulated Ukraine on the independence of the Church yet.
The issue was discussed at the last meeting of the Holy Synod on December 27 but as the press release reads, the discussions will continue at the next sittings of Synod.
The opposition says the government should not wait for the Church to comment on the fact and has to congratulate Ukraine, adding it is the friendly country which has the same problems as Georgia.
Parliamentary minority European Georgia member, David Bakradze says Ukrainians deserved independent Church, adding it is a very important occasion.
"I want to congratulate Ukrainians on this very serious event. It is very sad that our government did not congratulate the Ukrainian state and people," Bakradze said.
The Ukrainian church had been under Moscow’s jurisdiction since 1686 when under Russia's pressure, it abandoned allegiance to Constantinople, the historical seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church now known as Istanbul.
Patriarch Bartholomew oversees 15 separate Orthodox Churches from his seat in Istanbul, the ancient cradle of Christendom that the Orthodox still call Constantinople.
He had signed the Tomos in a civil ceremony with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday and sanctified it in a mass on Sunday.
The Tomos declares that the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, representing the Holy Synod of Ukrainian bishops, should turn to the Patriarchate of Constantinople for all decisions in the future.
Both, Patriarch Bartholomew and the new autonomous Ukrainian church, described the occasion as a long-needed alignment of Ukraine’s independent state and church.
