Patriarch Kirill recognized canonical jurisdiction of Georgian Orthodox Church on the occupied Territories

27/07/2011

Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia are canonical territory of the Georgian Church – recognizes the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.

“It is clear that there is a canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Georgia on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia”, – the Patriarch told journalists after a meeting with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II on Tuesday in the Ukrainian capital, in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

On the other hand, the Patriarch of Moscow continued there is “a canonical disorder” at the moment there. “This applies to both places. Especially recent developments in Abkhazia have shown that this canonical disorder is detrimental to spiritual life,” – he said.

According to him, “having discussed the situation in an open, brotherly atmosphere ” he and Ilia II have agreed to continue the conversation “in order to, by the grace of God, in future come to some solutions that would help the two churches to promote in close cooperation serenity of life of Orthodox people in these areas, establishment of the canonical order, and, most importantly, to prevent any schismatic actions that are detrimental to salvation of souls of men.”

Ilia II thanked Patriarch Kirill for the fact that he “confirmed jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region.”

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