Metropolitan Herman returns from Official Visit to Orthodox Church of Georgia

On April 24, 2004, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, returned from a nine day official visit to the Orthodox Church of Georgia.

Metropolitan Herman’s visit, his first to the ancient Georgian Church since his election as OCA Primate in July 2002, took place in response to an invitation extended by the Primate of the Georgian Church, His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II.

“While tradition holds that the Apostle Andrew first preached the Gospel in the region, then known as Iberia, the Orthodox Church of Georgia traces its official establishment to 330 A.D., when Saint Nino’s preaching led to the conversion of the imperial house and the general population,” according to the Very Rev. John Matusiak, OCA Communications Director. “Over the centuries, Georgia has witnessed numerous invasions, periods of political turmoil, and after the nation’s annexation to the Russian Empire in the early 19th century and subsequent incorporation into the Soviet Union, several decades of communist rule. Yet the Orthodox Church has remained at the heart of Georgia’s life and identity and, after the fall of communism and the nation’s independence over a decade ago, has been a serious yet moderate, voice in the midst of the many challenges the fledgling state is facing as it transitions into a democratic, free-market society.”

Traditionally, the Primates of the world’s autocephalous Orthodox Churches participate in fraternal official visitations as a sign of the Church’s Eucharistic unity.

“Since his election, Metropolitan Herman has made fraternal visits to the Churches of Constantinople, Russia, and Poland, as well as the Church in Ukraine,” Father Matusiak, added. “The Georgian Church, being neither Greek nor Slavic, is unique, maintaining its own traditions, iconographic and musical styles, language, and national consciousness. In light of the growing number of recent Georgian immigrants being served by OCA parishes, including Washington, DC’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral, the strengthening of fraternal ties and mutual understanding between the Churches in Georgia and America is crucial.”

Over 30 hierarchs and dozens of clergy joined Patriarch Ilia at Tbilisi’s international airport on Friday, April 16 as he welcomed Metropolitan Herman and the official OCA delegation, which included His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, Chancellor; the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Assistant to the Chancellor for Interchurch Relations and Ecumenical Witness; together with members of the support staff. During a brief press conference at the airport, Metropolitan Herman thanked Patriarch Ilia for the opportunity to visit the ancient Georgian Church.

The following morning, Metropolitan Herman was officially received by Patriarch Ilia and ranking hierarchs of the Georgian Holy Synod of Bishops at the Patriarchal headquarters, which were recently returned to the Church. In his welcoming remarks, Patriarch Ilia stated that Metropolitan Herman’s visit is “an expression of the fraternal relations enjoyed by our Churches.” The Patriarch also noted the increasingly cordial relationship between the US and Georgian governments, especially since the installation of a new government in Georgia just months earlier. Metropolitan Herman also spoke of the warm relations between the Churches in Georgia and America and praised the former for the moral leadership it is providing during a time of transition.

After praying in the Patriarch’s private chapel, Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman visited Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, which has been under construction since 1998. Crowned by the distinctive pointed cupola and embellished by exterior relief carvings indigenous to the region’s churches, the massive cathedral when completed will be the nation’s largest, with nine altars and frescoes fashioned in the unique Georgian style under the direction of noted iconographer Amaram Gadlidze. The cathedral complex also includes a monastic center, the wooden church of the Prophet Elias, the patriarchal residence, and a school for iconography and liturgical music.

Later the same day, Metropoitan Herman, accompanied by Patriarch Ilia, was received by the recently elected President of the Georgian Republic, Mikhail Saakashvili. Credited for the role he played in assuring a peaceful transition of power during the “Rose Revolution” and elected the nation’s President in January 2004, President Saakashvili listened intently as Metropolitan Herman spoke of the historically close relationship between the Churches in Georgia and America and its impact on the increasingly warm relationship between the US and Georgian governments. Metropolitan Herman highlighted the work of International Orthodox Christian Charities through its Tbilisi office and offered prayerful support to the President in his efforts against corruption and the challenges he faces in improving the nation’s economic situation while seeking a peaceful resolution to long-standing regional conflicts. The critical role played by Patriarch Ilia as a voice for peace and non-violent resolution of political confrontation during the recent regime change was also noted during Metropolitan Herman’s conversation with President Saakashvili. At the conclusion of their official meeting, Metropolitan Herman presented the President with an icon of Saint Nino, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia, Saint Herman of Alaska, and the Archangel Michael, the President’s patron saint.

In the evening, the Patriarchal Sioni Cathedral was filled beyond capacity as Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman concelebrated the All-Night Vigil for the Sunday of Saint Thomas. Dating back to at least the 12th century, the cathedral contains numerous precious relics, including the skull of the Apostle Thomas and the cross of St. Nino, which are enshrined in the main iconostasis and which Metropolitan Herman and the OCA delegation were permitted to venerate. Icons painted by Patriarch Ilia are also found in the cathedral.

On the Sunday of Saint Thomas, April 18, 2004, Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman entered the 11th century Cathedral of the Holy Apostles in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, as the paschal troparion was sung in Georgian. Currently the nation’s largest functioning church, the cathedral was built on the site of Georgia’s first church, erected in the fourth century. The cathedral also served as the place where the Patriarch-Catholicos was enthroned and the nation’s rulers were crowned and eventually buried. Among the relics enshrined in the cathedral is the robe of Christ.

After vesting in the center of the cathedral, Metropolitan Herman, together with Patriarch Ilia, Bishop Seraphim, and other hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Patriarch Ilia presented Metropolitan Herman with several mementos of his visit, including an icon of the Mother of God, a chalice, and an archpastoral staff. In turn, Metropolitan Herman presented relics of Saints Herman of Alaska, Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, and Raphael of Brooklyn to Patriarch Ilia, together with an icon of Saints Nino, Herman of Alaska, and the Prophet Elias. At the dinner which followed, Metropolitan Herman offered congratulatory remarks to Patriarch Ilia on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Patriarch’s ordination to the holy priesthood.

On Sunday evening, Metropolitan Herman was the honored guest at a private concert of classical and Georgian music by the “Synthesis” trio and viewed paintings by the famous 20th century Georgian artist, Elene Akhvlediani.

On Monday, April 19, Metropolitan Herman visited Tbilisi State University, where Dean Roin Metreveli presented him with the Ivane Javakhishvili Medal, the institution’s highest honor. With some 20,000 students studying in over 120 departments, the university recently initiated dialogue to establish sister-shool relationships with a number of US institutions, including Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University. Dean Metreveli explained that the majority of the university’s faculty and students are of the Orthodox faith and that the institution was working diligently to impart Georgia’s Christian heritage to its students after seven decades of communist rule.

Metropolitan Herman prayed in the university’s Chapel of Saint David the Builder before traveling to Mtskheta, where he visited three ancient monastic communities which, after the communist era, were recently revived.

The first monastery visited was that of Djvari, founded in the fifth century, where Metropolitan Herman was welcomed by Archimandrite David. The focal point of the monastery is a sixth century church built by King Guaram. The monastery was reopened in the mid-1990s and is being meticulously resotred by nine monks and a number of novices.

Metropolitan Herman then visited the Samtavro women’s Monastery located in Mtskheta. Founded in the 11th century, the monastery was also closed during the communist era and reopened in the mid 1990s. A small chapel on the monastery grounds marks the place where Saint Nino lived for a period of time. He also visited the Shio-Mgvime Monastery on the outskirts of Mtskheta. Founded in the mid-sixth century by Saint Shio, a Syrian monk, the monastery’s focal point is the Church of Saint John the Baptist, built 560 and 580. Metropolitan Herman venerated the relics of Saints Shio and Neophytos, his disciple. In ancient times, some 2000 monks inhabited the monastery, which was also closed during the communist era. After it was reopened in 1989, the monastery welcomed new vocations, and today six monks and 14 novices are working hard to restore the monastic life.

On Monday evening, Richard Miles, US Ambassador to Georgia, hosted a reception for Metropolitan Herman. Ambassador Miles spoke of recent developments in US-Georgian relations and spoke of his recent visit to the politically troubled region of Abkhazia. Among the many representatives attending the reception from Tbilisi’s diplomatic corps and religious communities were Patriarch Ilia and numerous hierarchs and representatives of the Georgian Patriarchate, Armenian Bishop Vazgen Saraidarian, Ambassador Xu Jianguo from the Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Ms. Patricia Moller, Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Embassy, Armenian Bishop Vazgen Saraidarian, and American Bible Society Director Eugene Habecker.

Metropolitan Herman delivered the keynote address at the Spring 2004 Missionary Seminar hosted by the Georgian Patriarchate on Tuesday, April 20.

Patriarch Ilia presided at the seminar which was coordinated by His Eminence, Metropolitan Daniel of Tskhum-Apkhazeti and Chiatura and His Eminence, Archbishop Nikolozi of Akhalkalakhi and Khumurdoan and is an annual event for clergy and laity interested in developing their skills in the areas of missionary work and evangelization. Metropolitan Herman’s well-received lecture, “The Church as Mission,” traced the development of the Church’s missionary efforts from apostolic times to the present, with special emphasis on Orthodox missionary work in North America. During the lively question and answer session that followed, it was evident that the Georgian faithful were not only intensely interested in Orthodox Christianity in North America, but viewed the Orthodox Church in America with great esteem.

Later the same day, Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman visited the fourth century Bodbe women’s Monastery in eastern Georgia to venerate the tomb of Saint Nino. A Service of Intercession was celebrated before the tomb of Saint Nino. During his visit to the monastery, Metropolitan Herman met with Salome Zourabichvili, the Foreign Minister of Georgia, who expressed her desire to strengthen the close friendship between the Orthodox Churches of Georgia and America and the peoples of both nations.

Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman then crossed the Kakheti region to the base of the Caucasus Mountain range, where they visited the Gremi Monastery. The monastery church was built in 1565, and restoration of the complex, which was closed during the communist era, has recently completed. After celebrating a Service of Intercession in the monastery church, Metropolitan Herman and the OCA delegation enjoyed a concert of the region’s traditional songs and dances.

On Wednesday, April 21, Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman continued their visits to monasteries and churches in the Kakheti region, visiting the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Telavi, the Cathedral of Saint George in the Alaverdi Monastery, and the Shuamta Monastery of the Khakhuli Theotokos. At every stop, the hierarchs were welcomed by countless faithful, many of whom travelled for hours by foot from remote villages to greet them. At the Alaverdi Monastery, Metropolitan Herman venerated the relics of Saint Joseph, Bishop of Alaverdi and Saint Ketevan.

The following day, Metropolitan Herman visited the ancient Lavra of Saint David Gareji southeast of Tbilisi, an amazing complex of 23 monasteries, sketes, and cave dwellings along the region’s unique mountain ridges. The monastery houses a large collection of ancient manuscripts which have survived attacks by Seljuk Turks, Persians, and Mongols and the Soviet period. Closed by the communists in 1921, the monastery reopened in 1996. Metropolitan Herman venerated the relics of Saints David, Nectarios and Dodo of Gareji and examined detailed plans for the complex’s restoration.

The following day, April 22, Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of Georgia, received Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman. The Prime Minister candidly discussed the ongoing relations between the United States and Georgia since the fall of communism, the pressing need to strengthen Georgia’s economy, and the importance of meeting the spiritual needs of the people. Metropolitan Herman spoke of the many American parishes now ministering to recent immigrants from Georgia, while Patriarch Ilia related the many forms of assistance the OCA has offered the Georgian Church.

That evening, Patriarch Ilia hosted a farewell reception for Metropolitan Herman and the OCA delegation at the Krtsanisi Residence, to which numerous government officials, ambassadors, and representatives of the Georgian Church were invited.

“The head of the Orthodox Church in America is visiting Georgia today, and this is a historic visit,” Patriarch Ilia emphasized in his remarks. “The Orthodox Church in America is the youngest of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches in the world. In the 1970’s of the last century, the Georgian Orthodox Church was the first to recognize the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America.”

In response, Metropolitan Herman reflected on his visit to Georgia and shared his joy in discovering “the great spirituality of the people that we’ve met.”

On Friday, April 23, Patriarch Ilia and Metropolitan Herman visited the regional offices of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in Tbilisi. Currently, IOCC operates two programs in Georgia: a Micro-credit program to develop small businesses and a project to rehabilitate a number of schools. The OCA has been deeply involved since IOCC was established in the early 1990s, and for six years, Mr. Gregory Manzuk, a member of the OCA, worked at the Tbilisi office. Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick, Chancellor and the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Ecumenical Officer for the Orthodox Church in America are both IOCC Board members. In the future, the local IOCC staff hopes conduct additional educational and agricultural programs. Mr. Pascalis Papouras, IOCC office head, welcomed Metropolitan Herman and thanked him for the OCA’s many contributions to the agency and its work.

Metropolitan Herman also visited the Georgian State Museum of Arts and the 12th century Shavnabada Monastery southwest of Tbilisi, at which he met Sandra Rulovs, wife of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. The monastic community hosted a luncheon in honor of Metropolitan Herman’s meeting with the Georgian First Lady, during which children from the neighboring town of Birtvisi performed Georgian folk songs on traditional instruments.

The following day, Saturday, April 24, Patriarch Ilia accompanied Metropolitan Herman, and the OCA delegation to Tbilisi’s international airport. Before their departure for the US, Metropolitan Herman once again thanked Patriarch Ilia for his gracious hospitality and his invitation to visit the ancient Orthodox Church of Georgia, and extended an invitation to the Patriarch to visit the Orthodox Church in America in the future.