Issue of Abkhazia and ShidaKartli (South Ossetia) in ecclesiastical relations between Russia and Georgia in the Post-Soviet period
Leila Giorgadze

Abstract
Ecclesiastical relationship is one of the most essential between neighboring countries, especially if they adhere to the same conviction. As history shows up religion is not always a spiritual issue, but it may also be quite an earthly matter – like remedy of fulfilling state’s aims and interest, wherever politicians are powerless. The history of coreligionist countries – Georgia and Russia is full of political difficulties – Orthodox Churches were part of these political relations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, both Georgia and Russia became independent countries, but Russia’s political and economic interests towards Georgia (especially some parts of the country) remained. In this article there is discussed the role that the Orthodox Church played in the post-soviet period relations between the states.

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