Today, March 21, a scientific conference was held at Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary. The conference was dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the restoration of the autocephaly of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia.
The Rector of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Protopresbyter of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, Giorgi Zviadadze opened the scientific conference with his introductory speech and addressed the audience:
“Today’s conference is being held on the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bitchvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, Ilia II. It is most important that in the bosom of the Theological Academy and Seminary everybody should understand what autocephaly is, how great the loss of it was, and how great its restoration is. We express our deepest respect and gratitude to our great ancestors, to the advanced intelligentsia, clergy, scientists, and public figures, through whose selfless struggle and dedication we regained the illegally seized autocephaly.
However, it was not a battle that was finally won because the leaders of the local Orthodox Churches did not recognize it. His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II needed further great efforts and consistent struggle to fully restore the dignity of the Church of Georgia. On March 4, 1990, the Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Demetrios presented His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II with two documents. One of them confirmed the autocephaly of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia, and the other recognized the patriarchal title of the head of the Most Holy Orthodox Church of Georgia,” – said the Rector.
The following speakers delivered speeches at the conference: Metropolitan of Manglisi and Tetritskaro, Doctor of History, Professor Anania (Japaridze), Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Gelati Academy of Sciences Eldar Bubulashvili, and Head of the Department of History of Georgia, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Theology, Professor Sergo Vardosanidze.
The topic of His Eminence Anania’s talk was “Autocephaly of the Orthodox Apostolic Church of Georgia.”
His Eminence began his speech by recalling the Battle of Martkhopi, noting that March 25 marks the 400th anniversary of that heroic act of the Georgians, and paid tribute to the heroes of the battle. He emphasized the main moments of the historical autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Georgia and spoke about the great contribution of the hierarchs of the Church in that era, which ultimately brought about the cherished result - restoration of autocephaly.
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician of Gelati Academy of Sciences Eldar Bubulashvili spoke on the topic – “The Governance Led by the Exarchs”. The speaker reviewed the era which preceded the loss of autocephaly and touched upon the period of exarchate in our country in detail. He also spoke about the prominent figures who strove for the restoration of autocephaly.
“Together with the clergy, lay people, among whom were the Georgian statesmen who worked in the sixties of the 19th century, fought tirelessly for the restoration of the autocephaly of the Church. These were prominent people led by Ilia Chavchavadze,” - the speaker said.
The Head of the Department of History of Georgia, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Theology, Professor Sergo Vardosanidze presented to the audience the topic “Restoration of the Autocephaly of the Church of Georgia”.
He discussed the document of the restoration of the autocephaly of the Church of Georgia which dates back to March 12 (25), 1917, and the problems connected with the recognizing of the autocephaly in 1943-1991. Mr. Sergo also spoke at length about the contribution made by His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II on the path to the restoring of the autocephaly of our Church.
The Head of the Department of Liturgy and Pastoral Theology of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, Doctor of Theology, Archdeacon Demetre (Davitashvili), and the teacher of Liturgy, Doctor of Philology and Theology, Academician of the Gelati Academy of Sciences and the Rector of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Archpriest Bidzina Gunia congratulated the audience on the festive date.
In conclusion, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze thanked the audience, His Eminence Anania, Mr. Eldar Bubulashvili, and the Head of the Department of Georgian History, Professor Sergo Vardosanidze who coordinated the preparations for the conference.
“I am grateful to each of you for standing together with His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, and for standing together with the Patriarchate of Georgia. Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary is the most prominent higher theological school and it cannot be otherwise. In addition, we always feel the special attention of the leader of the Church of Georgia towards TTAS, for which we are deeply grateful. We congratulate His Holiness, our Patriarch on this great day. The more time passes, the more his merits and wisdom will be displayed with greater dignity,”- with these words the Rector addressed those present.
The television channel “Ertsulovneba” of the Patriarchate of Georgia systematically covers the events held at Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, for which Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze thanked the Director of the television channel, Archpriest Michael Popkhadze.
Metropolitan Anania once again noted the great contribution of the Rector to the multidimensional progress of the institution.
The event was attended by the members of the Academic Council of the school, teachers and student
