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.
Read also
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.
Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor
A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.