By Efi Efthimiou
An interesting development arose from the celebration of the Baptism of the Rus of Ukraine in the previous days in Kyiv by the Russian Church in Ukraine.
In particular, and as reported by the “Ecclesiastical News of Georgia”, the head of the Russian Church in Ukraine, Metropolitan Onufriy, sent an invitation to the Church of Georgia to send its delegation to Ukraine for the celebrations.
However, the Georgian Patriarchate refused to send its delegation to the celebrations of the Russian Church in Ukraine.
This fact is of particular interest if one considers the recent statements of Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, that two more Churches are expected to recognize the Autocephalous Church.
It is also noteworthy that at the beginning of last month, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, visited the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, stating immediately after the meeting with Patriarch Elias of Georgia, that the Georgians have a positive attitude towards the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine.
Of particular interest from now on are the further moves of the Georgian Patriarchate, to prove whether the absence of its representatives in the events of the Church under Metropolitan Onufriy is an indication of the abandonment of its neutral – until today – position in Ukraine or if it is an isolated incident.