The activity of the Russian Orthodox Church In Abkhazia and South Ossetia: in accordance with the position of the Russian state, or contrary to it?

Institucionální podpora na dlouhodobý koncepční rozvoj výzkumné organizace 2019 Katedry politologie a mezinárodních vztahů FF ZČU v PlzniThe purpose of this text is to attempt to provide a basic outline of the Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which is considered to be the largest autocephaly Orthodox Church in the world, is active not only in Russia but also outside Russia. This is made possible through the “several states – one patriarchate” formula adopted by the ROC for the activities of other Orthodox churches in its canonical territory. However, the activity of the Church is also visible outside the canonical space. Close cooperation between the ROC and the Russian state within Russia and the support of the ROC in its work both inside and outside the canonical territory make it possible to discuss the interconnection between the state and the Church. One of the few examples in which the positions of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state are different are relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the state towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The aim of this text is to compare the attitude of the Russian state and the Church to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The analysis will proceed in two ways. The first will be the relationship of Russia and ROC to Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s ecclesiastical affiliation. The other direction will be the relationship to the “statehood” of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This paper, which is based mainly on the analysis of primary sources (state and Church websites), is structured chronologically. The study shows that the state and Church positions are very similar and do not contradict one another