Orthodox clergy of South Ossetia accuse ROC of treachery

The Orthodox clergy in South Ossetia have treated as "treachery" the refusal of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to take the South-Ossetian community under its patronage and to lay hands on a churchman for them.

"The Orthodox people of South Ossetia will no longer address the RPC with a request to take them under its omophorion (management)," said Alexander Pukhaev, leader of the Orthodox community of South Ossetia.

It follows from Mr Pukhaev's statement that his community will seek for declaration of independence of the so-called Alan Orthodox Church, and, hence, laying hands on bishops and priests for this church "on the side" - not in the in RPC, and not in the Georgian Church, as reported by the State Committee for Information and Press of the Republic of South Ossetia.

The churchman hopes, however, that the RPC will change its opinion both towards the people of South Ossetia and to the Georgian Patriarchy in the context of the above remarks.

The Moscow Patriarchy does not recognize the Orthodox Churches of Abkhazia and South Ossetia outside the canonical territory of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

See earlier reports: "Russia's culture figures ask Alexis II to help Maskhadov's family in getting his remains", "Vatican wants to help vulnerable population groups in Abkhazia", "Abkhazian Eparchy: there are no Georgian churches and monasteries in Abkhazia".