axali da uaxlesi istoria

IRINA ARABIDZE
Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology,
Ivane javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
THE ACTIVITY OF THE DELEGATION OF GEORGIAN CHURCH
PROVISIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN PETROGRAD
(JUN-AUGUST, 1917)
The provisional administration of the Church of Georgia, chaired by the bishop of Guria-Samegrelo Leonide,
was active from March, 12 till September, 17, 1917. The bishop was elected as joint patriarch of the Catholicos-Patriarch
of All Georgians. Provisional administration worked tremendously to define the rights of the Church of Georgia.
From this point of view the activity of its delegation in Petrograd from the middle of Jun till August, 2 was of
great importance. The delegation was responsible to give representatives of the provisional government information
about the state of the Church of Georgia; promote stating “the main regulations of the legal status of the Georgian
Church in the state of Russian”; to define the issue of the church lands and property and thus the obligation of the
Russian state treasure towards the Church of Georgia.
To renew the relations with synod was not the competence of the delegation. It has to inform synod that independent
Church of Georgia wanted to maintain the friendly relations with the Church of Russia.
During the visit in Petrograd Georgians living there helped a lot the delegation.
The provisional government passed “The regulations” with significant changes in July, 25.
The protest of the members of the delegation against giving the patriarch of Georgia only the title of the Archbishop
of Mtskheta was unsuccessful. But the principle position of the members of the delegation once more
assured Russian canonists that the legal church rule in Georgia will be restored in future by all means.
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