The Rector of Tbilisi Theological
Academy and Seminary, PhD in Theology and Philology, Professor,
Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze gave the welcoming speech. He
mentioned that the merit of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
before our Mother Church and our country is unfathomable; the
authority of our Holy Patriarch is great and is acknowledged beyond
Georgia. As Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze emphasized,
particularly noteworthy in his incumbency is the foundation of
Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary since the existence of a
theological institution in the country heralds the development of
theological thought in it. On behalf of this educational
institution, the Rector of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary
expressed their deepest deference towards the Holy Patriarch’s
merit. Further, the floor was given to the Metropolitan of Manglisi
and Tetritsqharo, PhD in Theology and History, Professor, His
Eminence Anania (Japaridze).
Metropolitan Anania Japaridze
gave a talk on the theme, titled: “The Early Years of the
Incumbency of the Patriarch (1980-1990)”. He particularly
highlighted the fact that Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary
was founded by the efforts and prayers of the Catholicos-Patriarch
of All Georgia Ilia II. This higher educational institution is now
a school of particularly advanced level. For this achievement, His
Eminence thanked the Rector of the institution, Protopresbyter
Giorgi Zviadadze. Metropolitan Anania gave a survey of the
circumstances in the Church and the policy of the Georgia of the
70s, the first difficulties which the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II
had to face and drew a parallel between that period and the
contemporary situation. As his Eminence said, the
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia exhibited dignity and honour
while going through all those trials, which he had to encounter on
his way from the very day of his enthronement, and he restored the
Georgian Apostolic Church. Metropolitan Anania mentioned that the
fact that the Holy Patriarch is the shepherd of the Mother Church
of Georgia is the proof of the abundance of God’s grace and the
mercy of the All Holy Mother of God upon Georgia.
The following speech was given by
the Rector of Saint Andrew the Apostle Georgian University, Head of
the Department of History in TTAS, PhD in Theology and History,
Professor, Mr. Sergo Vardosanidze. The topic of his speech: “The
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II and the centuries-old
world”. Mr. Sergo Vardosanidze mentioned that His Holiness’ merit
has many dimensions, however, in his talk he would only expound on
one of them. He remembered the year 1917, the day of the
restoration of the autocephaly to the Church of Georgia. On this
day, His Holiness, the Patriarch Kirion II addressed not only the
Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches but also the Pope of
Rome and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Armenians with an
extraordinary letter in which he wrote that this fact could be
considered as the continuation of the path of Primates of the
Church of Georgia. Being a defender of Orthodoxy, the Patriarch
Kirion was tolerant towards the other religious confessions
practiced in Georgia. The Rector of St Andrew the First-Called
University said that from the year 1921, under the Bolshevik
government Georgia disappeared from the world geopolitical map.
Therefore, the merit of His Holiness Ilia II Catholicos-Patriarch
of All Georgia in the recognition of the independence of the Mother
Church on the international level is profoundly evident. Mr. Sergo
Vardosanidze mentioned that if in the years 1943-1977 the Primates
of only a few of Orthodox Churches visited Georgia, in the years
1978-1987, those of every Orthodox Church came here. In the wake of
all this, in 1990, the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of
Georgia was recognized by the Ecumenical Church. Mr. Sergo
Vardosanidze also touched the theme of the relationships of the
Primate of the Church of Georgia with the religious and political
leaders of non-Orthodox states of the world who are disposed to the
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia with special respect. The
primary result of the mentioned relationships is the fact that the
world knows Georgia as the state of unique history and her
Autocephalous Church.
The Director of the Publishing
House of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, PhD of
Philology, Professor Nino Melikishvili gave a talk, titled: “The
Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II and the Problems of the
Contemporary World”. The speech was mainly concentrated on the
instructions given by His Holiness and Beatitude to his community
throughout many decades, which were not fulfilled; this
disobedience caused us to face an impasse, which the Spiritual
Father of our Nation himself offers how to resolve. Mrs. Nino
expressed her wish that “maybe in such hopeless situation as we
have stuck ourselves in, we will hearken his word” since the way to
resolve the problems we have been facing “is only one - to revive
in our lives the values which our Patriarch so often reminds us
about”.
The speaker mentioned that the
most primary problem we are facing today is the restoration of the
integrity of the county to which our Patriarch has dedicated so
much of his life. He has always called for peace and made
efforts in “holding the tension between the Georgian and the
Osetians off the critical margin…”peace” – this is the formulation
of the desirable relationships between us and the Apkhzians and
Osetians, laid by His holiness. This of course, he considers as the
result of the existence of these inseparable parts of Georgia
within her borders.” Mrs. Nino Melikishvili also touched another
theme of His Holiness and Beatitude’s concern – his call to the
young people, who are working abroad in order to provide themselves
with sustenance, to return to their motherland. The Patriarch is
pointing out that “while remaining in foreign countries they are
placing at stake their liability to remain without their native
country”, the aftermath of which is always deplorable: “becoming
oblivious of their own history and culture, values, mother tongue.”
The Patriarch admonishes the young people that they are to prepare
themselves for inheriting the duties of the older generation, to
start thinking about what they can give to their motherland instead
of thinking what the motherland can give them. The overindulgence
in material well-being causes an unfair distribution of the
material wealth and spiritual degradation. A human being’s last
provisions he takes with himself is goodness and the good deeds he
has done throughout his life. Here, in this world remains his good
name, which he will be remembered with.
“The most severe ordeal loomed
before the Georgian people when a certain part of them started to
inculcate in people unbelief and crowned this evil ambition with
attacks on the Church” – she mentioned, and continued her talk with
the Patriarch’s approaches to this issue. “While speaking about
this subject, the Patriarch again shows his magnanimousness which
is his inherent characteristic feature. He speaks about the hard
times, various slogans and addresses, which confound a human being.
That is why, His Holiness tries to elucidate to the people that
while blaspheming the Church, they become weapons in the hand of
the dark, evil and unclean spirits”. Also, His Holiness considers
the expression of fidelity toward the Church with the help of
gathering at street meetings is a wrong action for he acknowledges
prayer as the only way for solving all problems and calls his
parish toward it.
The speaker ended her talk with
the words of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II:”I often think
about the force, which saved Georgia. Our nation was saved by the
profound spiritual strength, steadfast faith, and national
awareness …- two forces – spiritual and national – will save the
Georgian nation, we must maintain them, we must preserve them. We
are to bring up our children with the same inspiration… for 2000
years, we, Georgians have confessed Christianity, and we should
remember that what the Lord will forgive others He will not forgive
us, since he has endowed us with abundance of His grace. And
whoever the Lord bestows with His grace, of him much will be
required.”
Lastly, the Rector of Tbilisi
Theological Academy and Seminary, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze
once again emphasized the contribution of His Holiness and
Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia to the
Country and thanked the speakers and the attending people.
P.S. Not long ago, Metropolitan
of Manglisi and Tetrotskharo, Professor of Tbilisi Theological
Academy and Seminary Anania Japaridze celebrated his 70th birthday.
The Rector of the educational institution congratulated him on his
jubilee and presented a Pangaea with an image of the Mother of God
to him.