Father superior or aide?

Image removed.

Akhali Atoni Monastery. Photo © Liberali

After the media reported that hegumen Yefrem (Vinogradov), who had been dispatched from the Moscow Patriarchate, was appointed father superior in Akhali Atoni Monastery, the square outside the monastery became filled with people.

The media said that Russian Patriarch Kirill II had made the decision at the request of Abkhaz clergyman Besarion Aplia.

Andrey, the incumbent father superior of the monastery, monks in Akhali Atoni and parishioners are referring to the rules of the monastery adopted back in the 19th century. It says that only a person, who took monastic vows in Akhali Atoni, can become father superior of the monastery.

On the next day, the Russian Patriarchate made a statement, which said that the Abkhaz public misunderstood Kirill II's decision. According to this statement, it was an assistant clergyman, who was dispatched to Akhali Atoni Monastery, not father superior.

However, the conflict in Abkhazia did not abate despite this statement by the Moscow Patriarchate. On the contrary, it is becoming even more acute.

The decision by the Russian Patriarchate even became the reason for holding a joint ecclesiastic and people's assembly. The assembly is to be held at the Simon the Canaanite Monastery on 15 May.

The problem of how Abkhazia should emerge from the domestic ecclesiastic crisis and how it should arrange its relations with the Russian Orthodox Church now goes beyond the frames of ecclesiastic life in the Abkhaz public. It is quite topical even among those who do not belong to the Orthodox confession.

Akhali Atoni Monastery is the largest Orthodox building on Abkhaz territory with its unique history and rules.

In addition, the national aspect should also be born in mind in this case. There are not so many Abkhaz clergymen in Abkhazia. Father Andrey, a young clergyman, who has been father superior of this monastery for 10 years now, is one of them. Many took his removal at one fling as an insult.

In addition to all this, the conflict is being regarded from the viewpoint of a dispute between the new generation of Abkhaz officials and the head of Abkhaz eparchy, father Besarion Aplia. The Akhali Atoni incident will be followed by a new round of confrontation within the church. This confrontation reached its peak five years ago, when two heads of the Abkhaz church were appointed: father Besarion and father Andrey. Later, father Besarion nevertheless managed to become the only head of the church with the help of behind-the-scenes intrigues.

The Abkhaz eparchy was transformed into the independent Abkhaz church two years ago. It has proved to be more convenient for father Besarion to forget that the Abkhaz church is independent, so he continues to regard himself as part of the Russian Orthodox Church. This is an internal intrigue within the church, which may be very dangerous for Russian-Abkhaz relations. The Abkhaz public, which won independence not so long ago, is very cautious when it comes to excessively close relations with the northern neighbour.

In the meantime, the independence of the church is an important aspect of this country's independence. That is why the population of Abkhazia are very nervous. In addition, all this is happening shortly after serious discussion linked to the demarcation of Abkhazia's border. Russia laid claims on 160 square kilometres of Abkhaz territory, but apparently abandoned the attempts later.

Development of Russian-Abkhaz relations, this time in the ecclesiastic context, will raise tensions quite significantly. It is difficult to say now how all that can end. Father Andrey's supporters are going to assemble in Akhali Atoni. Father Andrey told them that the community of the monastery will fight to the end. He urged the Abkhaz to attend an ecclesiastic assembly on 15 May. "Laymen and clergymen of Abkhazia should attend it," he said. The future of the Abkhaz eparchy and its head should be decided at the assembly. The conflict is now becoming more clear-cut, moving to the public arena.

The terminology used in the article belongs to the author and not “Liberali”.

The article is prepared with support of Heinrich Boell Foundation. The publication statements and ideas do not necessarily express the Heinrich Boell Foundation opinion.