Georgian Patriarch celebrates his 81st birthday

Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II celebrated his 81st birthday with local dignitaries and the Georgian public.

He began receiving congratulations the day before his birthday when several hundred people, including high officials, gathered across the Patriarchy in Tbilisi to congratulate their church leader.

Over a two hour period, citizens met with the Patriarch last night.

Ilia II was born as Irakli Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili in 1933 in Vldakavkaz. He graduated from Moscow clerical seminary before he was elected as the Patriarch of Georgia in 1977. During his time as Patriarch, the number of eparchies has increased from 15 to 45 and the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the world's third-tallest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, was also built.

The President of Georgia, the Prime Minister and several Ministers visited the Patriarch at the Patriarchy and congratulated him.

"Georgia has a Pastor, who can lead our country even in the hardest period. Every meeting with him fills me with a hope for future, said President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said: "We remember how the Georgian church before your enthronement was. We see how you have been revitalized Georgian church.

"I want to wish our Patriarch long lifetime. He is a big patron of Georgian Army," said the Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania.

The Patriarch blessed the government of Georgia and asked them to "forgive the others, because there is no man without mistakes in his life."