Paul Goble: Georgia wants to recognize Ukrainian autocephaly

Published Oct. 10, 2021 at 1:57 pm

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (C-L) and Metropolitan Epiphanius (C-R), the head of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, pray during a ceremony for the signing of the "Tomos" decree of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchal Church of St George in Istanbul on Jan. 5, 2019.

Photo by AFP

The Georgian Orthodox Church has not yet recognized the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church because it is concerned that if it does, the ROC MP will annex as part of its canonical territory, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But Moscow already controls church life there, Dmitry Gorevoy says.