The issue of the non-canonical intrusion of the Russian Church into the Patriarchate of Alexandria, as retaliation for Patriarch Theodore’s recognition of the Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, is fundamental but we must not forget other illegal cases of “intrusion” of the Moscow Patriarchate in other Churches as well.
As reported by the “Ecclesiastical News of Georgia”, a typical case is that of the illegally built temple by the Russian Church in the occupied Tskhinvali region of Georgia, the construction of which was not agreed with the canonical authority of this province, i.e. the Patriarchate of Georgia.
This process of intrusion of the Russian Church into the canonical boundaries of the Orthodox Church of Georgia has been going on for several years, violating the Divine and Holy Canons of the Orthodox Church.
A similar situation prevails in another Russian-occupied part of Georgia, in Abkhazia.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Pitsunda, and Sukhumi-Abkhazia Ilia, has repeatedly expressed His protest and condemnation of the non-canonical actions of the Russian Church, but it continues to this day.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, referring to the Patriarch of Georgia, does not recognize and does not accept his canonical title, as Metropolitan of all Abkhazia.
As reported by the “Ecclesiastical News of Georgia”, in the conquered areas of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia the Church of Russia has officially sent clergy, who commemorate Kirill of Moscow and perform services.
This time the Russian clergy of the Church of Russia performed the services of Christmas and Theophany, ignoring the canonical principle and authority of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.
