13th of September the society of Abkhazia met at the Sukhumi State University, where discussed the demand of Abkhaz separatists for the withdrawal of Diocese of Abkhazia from the jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The organizers of the meeting are going to send to most holy Archbishop of Constantinople - New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
To His All-Holiness Bartholomew I
Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
and to the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Your All-Holiness,
We appeal to You on behalf of the three hundred thousand Orthodox people who have been internally displaced from Abkhazia. We know that on the 17th and 18th of September the Patriarchate of Constantinople is receiving representatives of the Church of Georgia regarding the matter of the intention of certain Abkhazian clergymen to separate the eparchy of the Church of Abkhazia from the jurisdiction of the Church of Georgia - the same issue that is being put forward by some Abkhazian clergymen for discussion before other Churches. These clergymen deliberately garble the historical truth and facts of recent years. Christian love and tolerance have been consigned to oblivion by them. These clergymen belong to the jurisdiction of the Church of Russia and are now suspended from priestly duties. They are the hieromonks Dorotheus Dbar, Andrew Ampar and member of the Church of Georgia - hierodeacon David Sarsania.
We, internally displaced Orthodox people - Abkhazians, Georgians, Russians, Greeks, also people of other nationalities, demand an answer to the following question: Why do they ignore our existence and do not take into consideration our opinion and also our will to remain in the bosom of the Apostolic Church of Georgia? This is the Church which has at all times selflessly defended the true faith of Christ and whose history was written with the blood of our ancestors.
Relationships between Byzantium and Georgia embrace many centuries during which there were also periods of difficulty, however adherence to Christ’s Way, the brotherly love of the Churches and mutual respect of the peoples of common faith always resulted in victory. We believe that these relationships will remain intact, more so, that You are the first hierarch of this most ancient Patriarchal throne today.
Your merit in the cause of keeping peace throughout the entire world and maintaining the principles of Christianity is known worldwide. For contemporary Christendom Your person represents an image of the true shepherd who upholds a steadfast brotherly love among the Churches.
The Georgian people love You and hold You in respect. We rely on Your benevolence and justice since not once have You been to Georgia and not once have You demonstrated Your personal attitude of goodwill towards our people and Church, towards our Patriarch.
It is known to You that His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia was the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Tskhum-Abkhazia for eleven years and knows this region perfectly well. The extent of his deepest love for the Abkhazian people is felt by these people and they trust in Him. For many years private individuals as well as delegations from Abkhazia would visit the Patriarchate. These visits continue even today. And last year, more than 60 people who had been displaced from this region were baptized by His Holiness. The Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who always shows patience towards the injustice and non-canonical actions of clergymen and lay people, calls on the clergymen in Abkhazia for dialogue.
We should like to remind You once again that these people represent a small group of the population in Abkhazia whose aims stem from nationalism. They justify the expulsion of the major part of the Orthodox population and obstruct their return to their homes, not to expand on their other incorrect actions.
Regrettably, after having been received by Your Holiness, these clergymen declare that the independence of the Abkhazian church is attainable with the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and this opinion is being promulgated by them intensively.
We by no means accept it and hope that the Patriarchate of Constantinople will uphold in every respect the right of solving the problem of this eparchy within the jurisdiction of the canonical borders of the Church of Georgia so that the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia and the Clergymen of the Church of Georgia (among them those of Abkhazian origin too) tend the Orthodox parish of Abkhazia.
Furthermore, the absolute majority of the Orthodox people in this region shares our demand, but due to political pressure, avoids expressing their opinion openly.
We once again appeal to You to persuade those who desire the split that they should seek the resolution of the problems related to Abkhazia within the bosom of the Church of Georgia as it is stipulated in the Canon Law of the Orthodox Church.
We ask You to pray for us and wish You many years of fruitful ministry for the well-being of the entire Orthodox world.
The meeting of the Orthodox people displaced internally from Abkhazia
September 13, 2012
Tbilisi
