Abkhazia’s 'battle of priests' deepens as one cleric urges another to be 'thrown out' of monastery

Church dispute in Abkhazia

The head of the Abkhaz Orthodox Church (AOC) has temporarily suspended services in local churches, with the exception of the Sukhum Cathedral. Its leader, Father Vissarion Apliaa, is demanding that the Russian Orthodox Church recognise the AOC’s canonical status and that the Abkhaz authorities expel Archimandrite Dorotheos, the abbot of the renowned New Athos Monastery.

‘Battle’ for New Athos monastery: Church schism escalates in Abkhazia

The conflict between the leadership of the Abkhazian Orthodox Church and the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia has been ongoing for 15 years.

In his appeal to the Abkhaz authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), Father Vissarion repeated the two main demands he has voiced year after year.

First, he is calling on the Abkhaz government to “throw out” (as he put it) Archimandrite Dorotheos — the abbot of the New Athos Monastery and head of the unrecognised Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia, with which the AOC has long been locked in bitter conflict.

Father Vissarion argues that it is historically the role of the secular authorities to resolve such disputes in order to prevent rifts among Orthodox believers.

Second, he says the Russian Orthodox Church must recognise the canonical status of the AOC and cease acknowledging the Georgian Church’s claim to the churches in Abkhazia.

Abkhaz Orthodox Church leader issued an ultimatum to the Russian Orthodox Church

Abkhaz Orthodox Church leader demands acceptance of Abkhazia under its omophorion, resolution of its canonical status, and allocation of a Moscow temple for the Abkhaz diaspora.

In recent years, this is the third time the long-standing head of the unrecognised AOC has declared an interdict — a suspension of religious services.

But unlike previous cases in 2019 and 2020, this interdict is only partial: services have been halted in all churches except the Sukhum Cathedral. This is likely due to financial considerations, as shutting down every church and church shop indefinitely would inflict significant material losses on the AOC.

In an address to parishioners, Father Vissarion said the duration of the interdict would depend on the response from Abkhaz President Badr Gunba and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. He expressed hope that both would react quickly and that the issues could be resolved “by next Sunday”.

However, church affairs experts say the AOC leader’s demands are entirely unrealistic and that neither the president nor the patriarch is likely to even consider them.

Toponyms, terminology, views and opinions expressed by the author are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of JAMnews or any employees thereof. JAMnews reserves the right to delete comments it considers to be offensive, inflammatory, threatening or otherwise unacceptable.

Church dispute in Abkhazia