The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, this week celebrated the 42nd anniversary since his enthronement as the Patriarch of the Georgian Church.
The country’s political leadership issued congratulatory letters and messages on the occasion, thanking the Patriarch for his more than four decades of contribution in restoring the Orthodox Church and its traditions in the ancient Caucasus land.
He was elected as the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia in December 1977 at the age of 44.