On November 18, 2025, Archimandrite Prodromos (Lavriotis), abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Lavra on Mount Athos, and monks from the Monastery of Saint Athanasius the Athonite visited the Patriarchate of Georgia.
They were received by the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of All Georgia, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri; the chorbishop of the Catholicos-Patriarch; Metropolitan Theodore Tsiuadze of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti; the Chairman of the Department of External Affairs of the Patriarchate of Georgia; Metropolitan Gerasime Sharashenidze; the Head of the Property Management Department of the Patriarchate of Georgia; Metropolitan Andreas Gvazava; and other clergy.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of Christian brotherly love. The visitors were reminded that the Georgian fathers of Mount Athos founded the Iviron Monastery (the Holy Monastery of the Iberians) in the tenth century through the prayers and blessing of Athanasius the Athonite, whose mother was Georgian, and that the monastery has stood for centuries as a symbol of the deep historical bond between the two churches. They also noted that thanks to His Holiness and Beatitude Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia’s efforts, the groundwork has been laid to renew and strengthen relations with Mount Athos, which grow deeper year by year.
The pilgrims are expected to remain in Georgia until November 22, visiting holy sites, churches, and monasteries in various dioceses throughout the country. On Friday, the Feast of the Archangels, they will celebrate a festive Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Archangels in Darial.
