Patriarchal Divine Liturgy and departure from Georgia
On Sunday, October 18, 2009, the last day of the official visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America to Georgia, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada once again concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, this time at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Concelebrating the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Primates of two local Autocephalous Churches were hierarchs and clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church and members of the official delegation of the Orthodox Church in America who accompanied Metropolitan Jonah on his first visit to Georgia.
Following the reception of Holy Communion, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia blessed an icon of Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia, which was entrusted to Archimandrite Zacchaeus to bring to the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America for veneration by the faithful and visitors to the parish.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia welcomed Metropolitan Jonah to the cathedral and thanked him for making this first historic visit to the Georgian Orthodox Church. He also presented an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos to Metropolitan Jonah.
After the Divine Liturgy, a festal banquet was held in the visiting delegation’s honor, at which Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia once again offered words of gratitude and filial love to Metropolitan Jonah and presented him with an icon of the Holy Prophet Jonah. In turn, Metropolitan Jonah thanked him for the kind hospitality shown to him and the OCA delegation and presented him with a silver bowl on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America. In a spirit of Christian love and hospitality, and despite the grueling schedule of the day, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia escorted Metropolitan Jonah to the airport, where he personally saw off the Primate and OCA delegation. Giving glory to God for the countless blessings received during the short visit to the Georgian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah and those with him departed Tbilisi filled with joy and gratitude.
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Story and Photo Credit: www.st-catherine.ru.