Today, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, Ilia II, celebrates his 92nd birthday.
Born as Irakli Shiolashvili on January 4, 1933, in Vladikavkaz, to Giorgi Gudushauri-Shiolashvili and Natalia Kobaidze, Ilia II graduated from Vladikavkaz’s 22nd secondary school in 1952 and continued his studies at the Moscow Theological Seminary, graduating from the Moscow Theological Academy in 1960.
In 1957, he took monastic vows and was given the name Ilia. On April 18, 1957, he was ordained as a hierodeacon at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral, and on May 10, 1959, as a hieromonk at the Lavra of Saint Sergius. Upon returning to Georgia, he served at the Batumi Cathedral. On December 19, 1961, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen and later, on September 16, 1961, to the rank of archimandrite.
Ilia II’s ecclesiastical journey continued with his appointment as the Catholicos-Patriarch’s chorbishop on August 26, 1963. He served as the first rector of the Mtskheta Theological Seminary from 1963 to 1972. In 1967, he was assigned to the Abkhazian Diocese as Bishop of Tskhum-Abkhazia and elevated to Metropolitan in 1969. On November 9, 1977, he was appointed Patriarchal Locum Tenens.
On December 23, 1977, Ilia II was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia during the 12th Local Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church. His enthronement took place on December 25 of the same year.
Today, Ilia II remains a revered spiritual leader and a symbol of unity for Georgia.
