Abkhazian Orthodox Conference Appeals to World Orthodox Churches

The Georgian Orthodox Church has called on a national conference of the Abkhazian Orthodox Church to give up its call for the restoration of its past autocephaly and submit to the Georgian-dominated Patriarchate of Mtskheta-Tbilisi. The conference itself organized the Orthodox Church in Abkhazia as an archdiocese with its see at the New Athos Monastery and appealed to the first hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches to work together to resolve the status of the Church of Abkhazia. More here.

Abkhazian Politician Speaks Out on New Athos Dispute

An Abkhazian opposition leader, Raul Khajimba, has spoken on the recent dispute over the New Athos Monastery, saying that the Russian Orthodox Church should respect the self-governance of the Abkhaz Orthodox as they work to reestablish an independent Church of Abkhazia. More here.

Georgians, Russians Uninvolved in New Athos Dispute

The Georgian Orthodox Church is reporting that Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk denies any involvement in the recent attempt to apppoint an abbot for the New Athos Monastery in Abkhazia. More here.

Abkhazian Orthodox Protest Russian Orthodox Abbot

Abkhazian Orthodox clergy are protesting a decision to appoint an ethnic Russian as head of a historically Russian Orthodox monastery in Abkhazia, saying that the leading clergy of the Church of Abkhazia should be ethnic Abkhazians regardless of the leadership's warm relations with the Moscow Patriarchate. More here and here.