Ukrainian Autocephaly Possible 'in Canonical Way' Only - Georgian Metropolitan

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Ukrainian Autocephaly Possible 'in Canonical Way' Only - Georgian Metropolitan

Granting autocephaly, or independence, to the church in Ukraine is possible only if requested by the believers themselves, and this process must "develop in the canonical way," Metropolitan Andrew (Gvazava) of Gori and Ateni, who heads the Georgian delegation in Moscow on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill's election as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd February, 2019) Granting autocephaly, or independence, to the church in Ukraine is possible only if requested by the believers themselves, and this process must "develop in the canonical way," Metropolitan Andrew (Gvazava) of Gori and Ateni, who heads the Georgian delegation in Moscow on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill's election as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, told Sputnik.

"Does Ukraine have the right to demand autocephaly for the church? We believe that the Orthodox, believing people of Ukraine have this right, but it must be the fullness of the clergy, the fullness of the bishops and believers of the church, and all this must necessarily develop in the canonical way, and not in any other way," the metropolitan said.

Answering the question about how he assessed the actions of the Constantinople Patriarchate and state authorities in Ukraine, Metropolitan Andrew noted that the question was very complex and sensitive for the entire Orthodox Church.

"We must approach it with great caution and to know the opinion of the other local churches on this matter," he added.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has not yet officially expressed its opinion regarding the creation of a "new church" in Ukraine. The decision should be taken by its Holy Synod, but it is still unknown when it would convene the next time.

On January 6, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople handed over an independence decree, or tomos of autocephaly, to the head of the newly-established Ukrainian church. The Russian Orthodox Church along with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) � the latter is the only canonical Orthodox church in Ukraine � have refused to recognize Constantinople's decision, calling it legalization of schism and a tragic day for the world Orthodoxy.