Today is the birthday celebration of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia, the Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia. He is the spiritual leader of Georgian Orthodox church. He was 88 when he turned.
Ilia II is officially known as His Holiness, Beatitude, and Catholicos-Patriarch for All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta Tbilisi, and Metropolitan Bishop of Bichvinta, Tskhum, and Abkhazia.
Ilia was ordained as the bishop of Tskhumi & Abkhazeti in 1967 and elevated to metropolitan status in 1969. Ilia was elected Catholicos-Patriarch on 25 December 1977, after the controversial Patriarch David VI died.
Giorgi Gakharia, the Prime Minister of Georgia, congratulated Patriarch Giorgi on his birthday.
“I congratulate His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia, Catholicos-Patriarch for All Georgia on his birthday.
“His contribution in strengthening the spirituality and traditions of the Georgian people, as well as preserving their historical uniqueness is immeasurable. I am especially grateful for his contribution to the restoration and education of our churches.
Gakharia‘s Facebook post reads: “I wish our patriarch health, courage and a long life.”
By Ana Dumbadze
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