Patriarch Ilia II's 85th Birthday

Georgia’s Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II turned 85 years-old today. Born on January 4, 1932 in Vladikavkaz, Irakli Shiolashvili finished school in 1952 and continued his studies in theological seminary in Moscow, graduating from the theological academy of Moscow in 1960. 

In 1957. he consecrated to a monk, with the name Ilia. On December 23, 1977, he was chosen to be the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia, enthroned on December 25 the same year. December 25, 2017, marked the 40-year anniversary of the enthronement of Georgia’s Catholicos Patriarch. 

Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili congratulated Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia on his birthday, noting that it was with the Patriarch’s efforts that a great number of churches and monasteries have been built and renovated across the country, all through the period of Ilia II’s patriarchy. 

“His preaching appeals to kindness, tolerance, love, aspiring to honesty, diligence, education, which our country needs so greatly.” the PM noted.

By Nino Gugunishvili