Georgian Patriarch Ilia II turns 89
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II has turned 89 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian Church for 44 years. Photo: Press office of the Georgian government.
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Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II has turned 89 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian Church for 44 years.
Ilia II was born as Irakli Gudushauri-Shiolashvili in Vladikavkaz, currently Russia’s North Ossetia, in 1933. In 1967 he was consecrated as the bishop of Tskhumi and Abkhazeti in the currently occupied western region, and elevated to the rank of metropolitan in 1969.
After the death of Patriarch David V, he was elected the new Catholics Patriarch of Georgia on December 25, 1977.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II. Photo: Press office of the Government of Georgia.
Congratulating him on his birthday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili wished health and longevity to Ilia II.
Garibashvili noted that Patriarch Ilia II’s greatest contribution has been to the strength of Georgian people in overcoming trials, and that ‘faith in a better future continues to unite us [Georgian people]'.
His [Ilia II’s] work is full of love for God and homeland. His abilities of support and morality are exemplary to all Georgians. That is why he is highly respected not only by the Orthodox, but also each citizen of Georgia and the international community,” Garibashvili said.
From 1978 to 1983, Ilia II was Co-President of the World Council of Churches (WCC), an ecumenical organisation the Georgian Orthodox Church joined with other Soviet churches in 1962.
In May 1997, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church announced its withdrawal from the WCC.
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II and other members of the patriarchate have tested negative for coronavirus, Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze has stated. The tests have been conducted at the patriarchate after the secretary of Ilia II, Shorena Tetruashvili, contracted the virus earlier this week.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili met with Patriarch Ilia II earlier today to familiarize him with her views on how to decrease political polarization in the country and allow Georgia to 'move forward.’
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II, who is the most trusted figure in the country according to public polls, has for the second time requested the country’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, to suspend his hunger strike.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 88 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 43 years now.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia and worldwide today are celebrating Epiphany, one of the major dates in the annual religious calendar, with rituals of water blessing and mass baptism held at churches.
Important issues for Georgia and current events in the world were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday noted the “great honour” and a “pleasure” in meeting Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, earlier during the day.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating the Day of Virgin Mary today, which is otherwise known as the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday “heartily” congratulated Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Church on the 45th anniversary of his consecration as Patriarch, wishing him “longevity and health” for the benefit of Georgian people and Georgia.