Metropolitan Jonah visits parishes, monasteries and social institutions in the Georgian Diocese of Batumi
On Friday, October 16, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada, by invitation of His Eminence, Metropolitan Dimitri of Batumi and Lazeti, visited several parishes, monasteries and social institutions of Batumi during his short stay there as a guest of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The day began with the celebration of a Service of Intercession before a wonderworking icon of Saint Nicholas of Myra and Lycia in one of the city’s parish churches. From there, Metropolitan Jonah and those accompanying him went to the burial place of the Holy Apostle Matthias, where they entreated the saint’s intercession before the Throne of God.
Afterwards, Metropolitan Dimitri took Metropolitan Jonah and those accompanying him to a church he is building on the border with Turkey. The host hierarch also explained that the Diocese of Batumi, in addition to ministering to the spiritual needs of the people, is concerned for their physical welfare as well. Hence, he arranged visits to two diocesan orphanages and one nursing home for the elderly and infirm. Both social institutions, run by the local Orthodox Church, have chapels inside their main buildings, in which the residents can regularly participate in the Divine Services and receive the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion.
Metropolitan Jonah was interviewed by local television stations during his visit to the parishes, monasteries and orphanages in Batumi. In the interviews, he constantly stressed how impressed he is with the blessed work being accomplished by the Almighty God through the hands of Metropolitan Dimitri for the good of people in need. He also expressed his thankfulness to His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, for his kind invitation to visit the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Click here to view the photo gallery accompanying this release.
Story and Photo Credit: www.st-catherine.ru