Divine Liturgy concelebrated by the Primates of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary and also the Feast of the Georgian Orthodox Church called “Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba,” commemorating the placing of the Holy Tunic of the Lord, the Primates of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.
His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, showing kind Christian hospitality, awaited the arrival of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada inside the altar of his cathedral while the visiting Primate of the Orthodox Church in America was greeted by nearly all the hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Once inside the cathedral, Metropolitan Jonah was vested on the cathedra in the center of the temple. Afterwards, Catholicos-Patriarh Ilia descended to the center of the church, where he warmly greeted Metropolitan Jonah, and then began the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy.
The Liturgy which was celebrated in both Georgian and English, witnessed to the strong unity in Christ that exists between the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America. Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia greeted Metropolitan Jonah and the delegation accompanying him before the thousands of faith who attended. He expressed his joy in being able to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Likewise, in congratulating his spiritual flock on the occasion of the feasts, he also spoke at length of the need for the Georgian People to preserve their faith and love for their Motherland in order to preserve unity among all living in Georgia.
In turn, Metropolitan Jonah sincerely thanked Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia for the hospitality shown during this visit to the Sister Church of Georgia and stated his great joy in being able to pray at and visit many holy and ancient places throughout the course of his visit. In addressing the faithful gathered, he reminded them of the great blessing that they have in the person of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia as a wise spiritual father and holy archpastor of the Church entrusted to his spiritual care.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah and the delegation of the Orthodox Church in America were offered a luncheon with several hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church. An unexpected but pleasant surprise was the participation of Abbess Georgia from the “Gorny” Convent in Jerusalem at the luncheon. After the luncheon, Metropolitan Jonah shared a brief conversation with this well known abbess and discussed with her various issues concerning female monasticism.
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