DECREE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSARIAT OF ABKHAZIA on management of the Orthodox Church

The Commissariat of Abkhazia adopted the decision at the session of 1 September 1919:

1. The Cathedral in Sukhumi, the residence of clergyman and the building of the former educational council shall be declared as the property of the Autonomous Abkhazia.

2. The position of Sukhumi archimandrite shall be considered vacant and the measures shall be taken to appoint there the permanent and independent bishop.

3. Before the bishop is elected, the Head of Orthodox Churches of Abkhazia shall be appointed with the residence in Sukhumi.

4. The Head shall be authorized: to replace, appoint and dismiss the clergymen; to examine the monasteries and other church institutions; to establish eparchy at their own discretion.

5. To provide the Head with the residential place of archimandrite and the premises, which previously were at disposal of Sukhumi bishop.

6. To render to the Head the authority on personal management of archimandrite’s house and Dranda Monastery.

7. To entrust the acting Commissar of Internal Affairs I. N. Lortkipanidze with the task of implementing this decision.

Chairman of the Commissariat D. Emukhvari

Acting Commissar of Internal Affairs I. Lortkipanidze

Authentic with original:

Clerk of the Commissariat: K Chanturia (signed)

5 September 1919, Sukhumi

(Jemal Gamakharia, Badri Gogia, Abkhazia-Historical Region of Georgia. Tbilisi, 1997, p. 450-451/in Russian; Central State Historical Archive of Georgia, f. 1863, desc. 1, file 707, p. 2)