Sukhumi, May 16, 2011
An ecclesiastical congress has asked to set up a commission to discuss the status of an independent "Abkhaz Church".
The congress, which took place at the New Athos Monastery in Abkhazia on Sunday, adopted an appeal to the Primates and Holy Synods of all Orthodox Churches, asking to set up an inter-Orthodox commission led by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, to discuss the canonical status of the "Abkhaz Church", an Interfax correspondent reported.
It was reported earlier that the ecclesiastical congress created an archdiocese with an arch-see in New Athos in Abkhazia on Sunday. The congress was convened by young Abkhaz priests at the New Athos Monastery cathedral.
"The arch-see will gradually transform into an independent Abkhaz Church," said Archimandrite Dorofey (Dbar), chairman of the ecclesiastical congress. He suggested asking the Abkhaz Justice Ministry to recognize the ecclesiastical congress as a new Church institution in Abkhazia.
The congress participants voted for appointing the ecclesiastical congress as a supreme church-governing body until a fully functional institution of the "Abkhaz Orthodox Church" has been formed, and elected the Abkhaz arch-see Council that will act as a management body until the issue regarding the creation of the "Abkhaz Church" is decided.
