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.
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This is why I am skeptical of Russia's so-called "religious reawakening." The Church is acting too much like a branch of the government and the rapid construction of chapels seems like nothing more than an attempt to paper over the country's spiritual famine.
I've heard of one case in which a priest was disciplined for criticizing Putin's autocracy. I'm beginning to think that the whole "Church/State symphonia" issue has been an unholy distraction.
I think this may be "heretical" to think this but I am beginning to think that assigning ranks of honor to the Patriarchal sees was one of the most unfortunate and short sighted consequences of the Councils. It "made sense" back when Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch were centers of government, learning and economical relations respectively but quickly lost relevance when the Muslims took over and to this day cemented false ideas about the power and privilege what a Bishop's see gives him. (i.e: the Papacy)
Likewise with Moscow (and the risible "Third Rome" theories that try to sneak it as highest ranking Church) its connection with a regional power makes its concerns to earthly. Would that there were more Chrysostoms and Non-Possessors.
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