Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates the 25th anniversary of his primacy
12.02.2003 · English
HEAD OF THE GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PRIMACY
On 25 December 2002, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated the jubilee of the primacy of His Holiness and Beatitude Elijah II who ascended to the old see of the Archbishop of Mtskheti and Tbilisi, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, 25 years ago.
A Russian Orthodox delegation headed by Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuryev attended the celebrations with the blessing of His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Among the members of the delegation were Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and the secretary of Metropolitan Pitirim M. Sergeev.
On December 24, the delegation from Moscow was met at the ladder by His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Elijah, Metropolitan Daniel of Sukhumi and Abkhazia, Bishop Gerasim of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch Archpriest Zachariah Machitadze and clergymen of the Georgian Orthodox Church. After a brief meeting at the Patriarchate, the delegation left for Mtskheti together with His Holiness the Catholicos and Georgian Orthodox bishops to participate in a vigil service at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
The next day, His Holiness and Beatitude Elijah celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity in Tbilisi. Concelebrating him were Metropolitan Pitirim and 26 Georgian Orthodox bishops A host of the faithful attended the first worship service held in this majestic church which is still under construction.
The President of Georgia E. Shevarnadze, who also arrived at the church, greeted His Holiness on the occasion stressing that he was speaking “as the head of state, a member of the Georgian Church and a godson of His Holiness the Patriarch.” He highly appreciated Patriarch Elijah calling him “the spiritual shepherd of the nation and a faithful son of the homeland.” For his services, the Primate of the Georgian Church was decorated with the supreme state order of David the Builder. At present, Patriarch Elijah is the only winner of this high award in Georgia. Mr. Shevarnadze emphasized that it would have been impossible to overcome chaos and miseries that had befallen Georgia in the period of civil confrontation without the support and assistance of the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church. “Like centuries ago, in the time of ordeals, the Church and her shepherd remain torches lightening the way for their people.”
Metropolitan Pitirim read out a message from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and conveyed liturgical items to the new church as a gift from the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church stressing that the nations of Georgia and Russia had one faith and the common Chalice of Christ united them.
Then Metropolitan Job of Urbnisi and Ruissi greeted His Holiness and Beatitude on behalf of the archpastors and the Plenitude of the Georgian Church. During the fraternal meal at the Patriarchate, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov read out a message of greetings from His Eminence Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, DECR chairman. The message says in particular: “Looking back at elapsed years, we can see that your election to the old see of the Iberian Primates was indeed a work of God. You have not only preserved, but also increased the spiritual treasure collected by your blissfully deceased predecessors. Wise and timely words of Your Holiness evoke a considerable response in society and serve as a secure guiding line for many people. You have meetings with state leaders and distinguished people, but at the same time with ordinary workers. You can find words of consolations and support, of approval and welcome for everyone.” Father Nikolay presented Patriarch Elijah with a memorial panagia, a gift from Metropolitan Kirill.
Patriarch Elijah expressed his cordial gratitude to His Holiness Alexy for his message of greetings. He noted with a special warmth the fact that the Russian Orthodox delegation was among the participants in the celebrations and stressed that he attached great importance to the presence of Metropolitan Pitirim who had been his teacher during the study in the Moscow Theological Schools. “It was a blessed time. I had a good chance to benefit from the spiritual experience of elders in St. Sergius’ Lavra of the Holy Trinity and lived under the patronage of St. Sergius, whose servant I believe to be till now.”
Metropolitan Daniel stressed in his speech that the participation of the Russian Orthodox delegation “has made the celebration an event of the ecumenical importance for the Orthodox Church.” Metropolitan Abraham of Western Europe and America said that the participation of the delegation from Moscow witnessed to the spiritual intimacy that had always inhered in relations between the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches, the nations of Georgia and Russia.
The final meeting of the delegation with the Primate and bishops of the Georgian Orthodox Church took place on December 26, at the Patriarchate. They discussed the intensification of fraternal relations between the Churches. “I would like to once again repeat the words that I said during my meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy in November 2000 in Moscow: May the truly fraternal and friendly relations between our Churches serve as a good example for statesmen both in Russia and Georgia,” Patriarch Elijah said as he spoke at the meeting. “The Orthodox faith has formed the both nations and saved them during historical disasters. Now, we are challenged to preserve the spiritual image of our people moulded by Orthodoxy. It is particularly important as our nations experience a strong impact of the Western culture, sometimes it would be more appropriate to say “pseudoculture”, that threatens to obliterate our traditional values,” he said.
During their stay in Tbilisi, the delegation also visited the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Georgia V. Chkhikvishvili who had lately arrived to his new duty station. During the meeting, the Russian Ambassador expressed his hope for a close cooperation between the both Churches aimed at developing neighborly and friendly relations between Russia and Georgia.
Georgian mass media took a keen interest in the visit of the Russian Orthodox delegation. His Eminence Pitirim and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov gave a live talk on the Georgian radio. Metropolitan Pitirim gave an interview to several Georgian TV channels and spoke at a press conference together with Metropolitan Daniel of Sukhumi and Abkhazia.
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