By Romfea.news
Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi reacted strongly to the statement of Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, chairman of the Department of External Church Relations, who last week said that “the Georgian Church cannot recognize the autocephaly of Ukraine, because Tbilisi realizes the threat facing Georgia if it makes such a decision.”
According to Interpressnews.ge, Metropolitan Grigol said that “this is the expression of language of blackmail and psychological violence in order to make the Georgian Church accept a decision, desirable for Russian Orthodox Church. Alfeyev is not a private person and he has voiced the position of the Russian Church. This issue is not closed, the process of discussion is going on not only in our church, but in other churches as well, and there are different opinions”.
He also mentioned that “I believe that we will eventually adopt a reasonable decision based on the canonical law that will not promote development of a new great schism in the Orthodox Church”.
Metropolitan Grigol said in his interview with the “Voice of America” that he believes the Georgian Church will make a reasonable decision based on canonical law.