Posted on 10/04/2010 2:25:00 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Tbilisi, September 27, Interfax - The spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church has sent a letter to Russian Patriarch Kirill expressing concern over a message sent by the Russian Patriarch to the South Ossetian leader.
"Reports were circulated claiming that you have sent greetings to the head of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its independence, which caused an extremely negative reaction among our believers and in the whole of the Georgian republic," Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II said in his letter.
"This move is regrettable and absolutely not clear, as it signals support for and recognition of the forcibly imposed separatist regime, and of the illegally proclaimed 'independence' on this ancient Georgian land, which the whole world has acknowledged," Ilia II said.
"Our people remember your personal support and the support of the Russian Orthodox Church for the recognition of the canonical borders of Georgia and the Georgian Church. Therefore, the above-mentioned step was absolutely unexpected for us," he said in the letter. "We presume the Church must not be under the influence of politicians and political processes. We hope that in the future you will remain on the side of justice, which will facilitate the establishment of good neighborly relations between our states."
South Ossetia's State Committee for Information, Communication and Mass Media reported on its website on September 19 that Father Sergy, at a ceremonial meeting at the South Ossetian government's conference hall, ahead of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of South Ossetia's independence, conveyed the Russian patriarch's greetings to the president and people of South Ossetia.
Say that three times real fast!
Kiril’s another Putin automaton.
Got a link to the actual statement delivered by the Patriarch or is this second-hand rumor mongering all that there is?
Oh well, so much for “the Russian Orthodox Church continues its expressions of solidarity with genocidal ethnic separatist heretics...”
Got any proof?
To His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Such actions are hardly understandable and sorrowful. That means support and recognition of violently set separatist regime and illegal declaration of “independence” on that ancient Georgian land which is truly recognized by the international community.
Our nation remembers Your personal support and support by Russian Orthodox Church regarding the issue of recognition legal borders of Georgia and Georgian Orthodox Church. That is why the above mentioned news was so unexpected and sudden for us.
We do believe that the Church shall not be under politicians and political events influence. We express our hope to see Your position on the side of justice and truth that will truly support development of good neighborhood relations among our states.
With brotherhood love in Christ,
Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II
Exactly as I said, you’re posting reactions to a story about what was supposedly said, but no direct links to the Russian Church representatives saying any such thing.
Thanks for proving the point.
You asked for the link to the actual statement delivered by the patriarch and I provided it. If you are calling the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church a fool and a gossip-monger then that’s on you.
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