Delegation of the Orthodox Church in America arrives in Georgia
On Monday, October 12, 2009, His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Jonah of All America and Canada arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia for his first official visit to the Georgian Orthodox Church, which will continue until Sunday, October 18, 2009.
Accompanying Metropolitan are the Very Rev. Alexander Garklavs, OCA Chancellor; the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations; the Rev. Alexander Tandilashvili; and Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov. Joining the New York delegation from Moscow will be Archimandrite Zacchaeus [Wood], Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarchate of Moscow.
Upon the delegation’s arrival, His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia warmly greeted Metropolitan Jonah, who expressed his joy in being able to welcome the Metropolitan in Tbilisi.
The Metropolitan, together with the delegation accompanying him, were taken to the Patriarchate for a formal reception by His Holiness. Afterwards, the guests of the Georgian Church had the possibility to join Patriarch Ilia in celebrating the first year anniversary of the University of the Patriarchate where Metropolitan Jonah also was able to congratulate the faculty and students on this important milestone in their history.
Later that evening, after a brotherly dinner with hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah and the other members of the delegation went back to their hotel for rest after a long day’s journey, giving thanks to the Lord for the blessing of being able to share in fellowship with their Georgian brothers.
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Story and Photo Credit: www.st-catherine.ru