The Georgian Orthodox Church on January 4 marked the 93rd birthday of its primate, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, with special prayer services held across the country.

In churches nationwide, clergy and faithful offered prayers of thanksgiving and petitions for the health and long life of the Patriarch, who has led the Church for nearly half a century. The main celebrations took place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the country’s principal patriarchal church.

During the service, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, delivered a sermon highlighting the spiritual significance of Ilia II’s decades-long ministry. He described the Patriarch’s service as a guiding light for believers, comparing it to the Star of Bethlehem that leads the faithful toward Christ and underscoring his example of pastoral dedication and fidelity.

In an official congratulatory message, the Georgian Patriarchate said that the life and ministry of Ilia II have become a model of Christian humility, love, and responsibility for the nation’s future. The Church expressed gratitude to God for the Patriarch’s leadership and prayed that he would continue to guide the Georgian Orthodox Church “along the path of Christ’s truth and the spiritual strengthening of the nation.”

President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili also extended his congratulations, noting the importance of the Patriarch’s prayers and spiritual wisdom for both society and the state.

Ilia II, born Irakli Gudushauri-Shiolashvili, has headed the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977. During his patriarchate, the country has witnessed a significant revival of church life, including the establishment of dozens of new dioceses, a sharp increase in the number of active churches, the opening of theological academies, and the construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, which has become a symbol of the modern history of the Georgian Church.