President of Georgia congratulates Patriarch Ilia on his 93rd birthday
Visit of the President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili to Patriarch Ilia II. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
On January 4, 2026, the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, congratulated the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, on his 93rd birthday. Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel reported this.
“Today I had the honor of personally congratulating the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, on his 93rd birthday. His prayers, wisdom, and spiritual strength fortify our people,” Kavelashvili wrote on social media.
The head of state wished the Patriarch health and long years in his service to the country and the Church, and also “expressed his gratitude and respect for his invaluable contribution to Georgia.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Georgian Orthodox Church marked the 48th anniversary of the Patriarch’s enthronement.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.