Georgian Church celebrates anniversary of restoration of its autocephaly

Divine service in honor of the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. Photo: website of the Georgian Church

On March 25, 2025, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated an important historical date – the day of the restoration of autocephaly, writes the press service of the Georgian Patriarchate. By the blessing of Patriarch Ilia II, the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku held a thanksgiving service at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral, with the participation of bishops and clergy.

Among the believers at the service were the President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, President of the Academy of Sciences Roin Metreveli, other representatives of the authorities, as well as a delegation from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

After the thanksgiving service, Bishop Shio held a memorial service for those who worked for the attainment of autocephaly, conveyed greetings from the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia to those present, and delivered a speech on the significance of the restoration of autocephaly.

On March 12 (25), 1917, the Georgian Church proclaimed the restoration of its autocephaly, which had been lost in the early 19th century after Georgia's annexation to the Russian Empire. The Russian Orthodox Church condemned the unilateral nature of the restoration of autocephaly. Communication between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Georgian Church was interrupted. In 1943, by the decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, communication with the Georgian Church was restored. The Synod justified its decision by referring to the 17th rule of the Chalcedonian Council, explaining that "according to church rules (Ecumenical IV, 17, etc.), church boundaries should follow state boundaries."

As a reminder, the Patriarch of Georgia called on Trump to defend traditional Christian values.

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