The delegation of the Orthodox Church in America participated in the celebrations in Georgia and held a number of meetings

A delegation from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) made an official visit to Georgia, where it participated in church celebrations dedicated to the memorial day of St. Nina, a key figure in the history of Christianity in Georgia. During the visit, the PCA representatives held a number of official meetings with clergy and discussed issues of church education and potential cooperation, as well as conveyed fraternal greetings to the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

According to the official website of the Orthodox Church in America, the festive services were held on January 27 at the Sioni Cathedral in downtown Tbilisi. The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Nikolai of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo. From the Orthodox Church in America, Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth and Archpriest Daniel Andriyuk took part in the service. During the service, the faithful had the opportunity to worship the cross of St. Nina, which, according to Church legend, was woven from a vine.

St. Nina played a momentous role in the history of Georgia, bringing Christianity to its territory in the IV century. The Georgian Orthodox Church is preparing to celebrate a significant date — the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by the Georgian people, which will be celebrated in 2026. St. Nina’s Memorial Day is one of the most revered religious holidays in the country and is traditionally accompanied by solemn services in all Orthodox churches.

During the visit, the PCA delegation also held important meetings. Thus, on January 28, the representatives of the Church met with the Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze. The sides exchanged views on the issues of church education and discussed the prospects of possible cooperation between the spiritual educational institutions of Georgia and the United States of America. The guests also conveyed fraternal greetings and sincere congratulations from the leadership of the Orthodox Church in America to Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Recall, earlier it was reported that from June 7 to 10, 2024, a delegation of the Orthodox Church in America, headed by the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Tikhon of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, visited the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Representatives of the PCA held a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, during which the Ukrainian church issue was raised.