The 250th anniversary of the Moscow community of the Georgian Orthodox Church

THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOSCOW COMMUNITY OF THE GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos and Patriarch Iliya II of All Georgia conducted a thanksgiving on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Moscow community of the Georgian Orthodox Church, on November 15 at the church of the Holy Martyr George the Victorer-in-Gruziny in Moscow. Among the worshippers were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Archbishop Daniel of Sukhumi and Abkhazia, Archbishop Abraham of Chiatura, Archbishop Arseny of Istra, Bishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Archimandrite Mark, vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, delegates from the Georgian Patriarachate, Moscow clergy and numerous members of the Georgian Orthodox community. After the service, Patriarch Alexy and Catholicos Iliya exchanged speeches.

After the service, the patriarchs had a talk at the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow at St. Daniel’s monastery, during which Patriarch Alexy was invited to visit Georgia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.

Patriarch Alexy gave a luncheon in honour of Catholicos-Patriarch Iliya II and his party. Among the guests were bishops who attended the thanksgiving, the Georgian Ambassador in Moscow, Z. Abashidze, Mr. Eugene Primakov, leader of the Fatherland – All Russia faction in the State Duma, and Archimandrite Mark.

In the evening, Ambassador Abashidze gave dinner on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the church of St. George. Along with the above-mentioned state and church Russian and Georgian officials, present were also Mr. I. Klebanov, deputy prime minister, Mr. V. Lukin, State Duma vice-speaker, Mr. V. Zorkaltsev, chairman of the State Duma Committee for Public and Religious Organizations, prominent cultural figures and diplomats.

During the dinner, a message of greetings sent to Patriarch Alexy by the Georgian President E. Shevardnadze on the occasion of anniversary of the Moscow community of the Georgian Orthodox Church was read.

See also the official site of the Georgian Orthodox Church at
http://www.orthodox-patriarchate-of-georgia.org.ge