What tactics should the Georgian clergy adopt after the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church? (Based on the events of 1906)

Abstract

The 19th century proved to be one of the most challenging periods in Georgian history. The complexity of this era was
shaped not only by political transformations – such as the abolition of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, the exile of the Bagrationi
dynasty, and the failure of multiple uprisings throughout the century – but also by the abolition of the autocephaly of the
Georgian Apostolic Church. In 1811, one of the most ancient patriarchates, the Patriarchate of Mtskheta, was abolished, followed
by the dissolution of the Likhti-Mereti and Abkhazian patriarchates in 1814. Until 1906, Georgian clergy made repeated efforts
to bring the issue of restoring the Georgian Church’s autocephaly to the forefront of public and ecclesiastical discourse, albeit
unsuccessfully. Political readiness was also a necessary condition for this endeavor. The political developments in Russia in 1906
created a favorable environment for reviving the movement for autocephaly. This paper examines the events that began in 1906,
particularly the goals of the autocephalist movement and the role of Georgian clergy in these processes. It is evident that the
restoration of the Georgian Church's autocephaly was a widely shared aspiration; however, it faced numerous underlying
challenges that required considerable effort to resolve. The study employs historically verified methods, including historical
comparative analysis, historical-source analysis, cyclical source study, and systemic analysis.