Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia celebrates his 90th birthday

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II is today celebrating his 90th birthday.

Government officials, representatives of various sectors of society and leaders of foreign Churches sent their congratulations to the Patriarch. Among those who visited the Patriarch to offer their congratulations was the prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili.

Ilia II remains one of the most influential personalities in Georgia despite his old age and frail health. He leads an Orthodox Church that has revived considerably after the collapse of communism, but which is divided, and according to some, riddled with scandal. Senior clergymen within the Church juggle to position themselves for the day when the Patriarch passes away. It will be a historic and landmark moment not only for the Church but for the whole of Georgia.

Ilia II was born the son of Irakli Giorgi Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili on January 4, 1933. He was ordained as a monk in 1957 and was named Ilia; On April 18, 1957, he was ordained as a archdeacon in the Patriarchal Church of Zion; On May 10, 1959, he became a priest in the Church of the Saint Sergius Monastery; On December 19, 1960, he was elevated to the rank of Abbot, and on September 16, 1961, to the rank of Archimandrite; On August 26, 1963, he was appointed as the Auxiliary bishop of the Catholicos-Patriarch; In 1963-1972 he was the first rector of Mtskheti Theological Seminary; In 1967, he was transferred to the Diocese of Abkhazia; In 1969, he was raised to the rank of metropolitan; On December 23, 1977, he was elected as the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

source: commonspace.eu
photo: Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II
 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.