On December 27 the session of the Holy Synod was conveyed in the Patriarchate of Georgia.
The session was presided by His Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos – Patriarch of all Georgia.
Amba-Alaverdian Metropolitan David was appointed as the secretary of the session, Georgian Orthodox Church reports.
At the beginning the members of the Holy Synod were greeted by the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia.
- HB Ilia II talked on the difficult ecclesiastical condition created in Ukraine and expressed his concern regarding the tensions between the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Russia.
HB stressed as well that despite the deepening of the crisis at the current stage, he hopes that by the assistance of God the existing problems will be overcome and fraternal unity will be restored among the churches.
There had been many temptations in the orthodox church in the past but they were healed by the grace of Lord, he added.
Metropolitan Gerassime of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, head of the Division for the external relations of the Patriarchate of Georgia presented to the attendees the addresses of the Primates of both churches.
The hierarchs expressed their positions on the mentioned issue.
The Holy Synod decided:
The discussions on the tensions created in the Orthodox Church and the process ongoing in Ukraine to be continued on the following session of the Holy Synod.
The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church calls her parishioners living both in Georgia and abroad to cordially pray for peace and unity of all Orthodox Christians to the Lord.
- Report of Metropolitan Ioane of Rustavi on the canonization of Metropolitan Anton Giorgadze of Kutaisi, who lived and worked in XIX-XX cc.
The Holy Synod decided:
The submitted materials to be examined by the relevant commission and the conclusions to be presented to the following session of the Holy Synod.
- HB Catholicos-Patriarch addressed to the members of the Holy Synod on the necessity of the Monastic Statute of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Andria of Gori and Ateni talked about this issue as well.
The Holy Synod decided:
To create commission which will prepare the draft of the Monastic Statute of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
- Metropolitan Daniel of Sachkhere and Chiatura reported to the session on the apostolic-missionary ministry of the Church in Georgia.
He also touched the issue of celebration of the May 12 holiday. The session stressed that the by the blessings of the Saviour and All-holy Theotokos St. Andrew the First-called Apostle was sent to Georgia who brought acheiropoieta icon of the All-holy Virgin as a symbol of the visit of the Theotokos to the country allocated to her by the lot and thus a special significance has to given to this fact.
The Holy Synod decided:
May 12 to be announced as a Day of Allocation of Georgia to the All-holy Theotokos in lot.
Metropolitan Daniel also talked about the solemn celebration of 1700th anniversary of St. Nino’s entry to Georgia on 2019 year and expressed his willing that the journey through the path of St. Nino (from Paravani to Mtskheta) to be joined by clergy and parish representatives of all eparchies (this shall be 30th journey on this path).
- Metropolitan Nikoloz of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo raised the issue on the ancient eparchy of Kari which currently belongs nominally to the jurisdiction of the Georgian Church and requested the amendment to the title of his eparchy.
The Holy Synod decided:
The title of the Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo to be amended as follows: Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kari.
Photo credit: Georgian Orthodox Church
© Translated by Davit Chikvaidze
