Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Arrives in Ukraine

25/7/2011

The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church met His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia at the Kyiv Caves Monastery

Upon arrival to the capital of Ukraine, the Patriarch visited the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Near the gates of the Holy Monastery of the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church as welcomed by Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Ioannikiy Luhansk and Alchevsk, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnytsia and Mohyliov-Podilsky, administrator of the UOC Archbishop Metrophanes of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav, vicar bishops of the Kyiv Metropolis, clergy of the capital, pilgrims and numerous representatives of the Georgian diaspora.

After a solemn meeting of Patriarch Elias celebrated a thanksgiving prayer service in the square in front of the Dormition of the Monastery, after which the Primates of the Ukrainian and Georgian Orthodox churches exchanged congratulatory words.

“During the years of its existence our ancient Monastery can hardly boast of having received the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Now you have made this historical visit in order to pray with our people, our hierarchs, with our clergy. Pray for the peace in the world, pray that the Lord multiplied love between our peoples, and thus showed that there is love between our Churches “- said, in particular, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr in his greeting.

In his turn, Patriarch Ilia II said:

“I heartily congratulate you on behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Georgian Orthodox Christians, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church and wish you good health and long life. I wish your Beatitude that peace and tranquility reigned in your land and on Georgia to peace and quiet was in our hearts. You, Your Beatitude, are outstanding not only among the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but of the entire Orthodoxy. We deeply respect your spirituality and your knowledge. I thank you again for the warm welcome and invoke the God’s blessing on all the faithful. ”

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