Patriarchal Divine Liturgy and departure from Georgia

OCA Delegation Visit to Georgia

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH of All America and Canada had the opportunity to once again concelebrate the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy led by His Holiness and Beatitude, ILIA II Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, this time at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on the last day of the official visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America to the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Concelebrating the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Primates of two local Autocephalous Churches were hierarchs and clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church and members of the official delegation of the Orthodox Church in America who were chosen to accompany His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH on this first visit to Georgia.

Following the reception of Holy Communion, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch ILIA II blessed an icon of St. Nina, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia which was entrusted to Archimandrite Zacchaeus to bring to the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America for veneration by the faithful and visitors to the parish.

At the conclusion of the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH to the cathedral, thanked him for making this first historic visit to the Georgian Orthodox Church, and in honor of the visit, presented him with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.

After the Divine Liturgy, a festal banquet was held in the visiting delegation’s honor. Here, Catholicos-Patriarch ILIA II once again offered words of gratitude and filial love to His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH and presented him with an icon of the Holy Prophet Jonah. In turn, His Beatitude thanked His Holiness for the kind hospitality shown to him and those accompanying him on this trip and presented his host with a silver bowl on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America. In a spirit of Christian love and hospitality, and despite the grueling schedule of the day, His Holiness, Catholicos-Patriarch ILIA II escorted His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH to the airport where he personally saw off the Primate and visiting delegation of the Orthodox Church in America. Giving glory to God for the countless blessings received during the short visit to the Georgian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH and those with him departed Tbilisi filled with joy and gratitude.

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