Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, which took place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Church of St. George in Edirne, where the Holy Services are performed in the Georgian language to serve the Georgian community of Constantinople.
The Georgian Ambassador to Turkey, Giorgi Janjgava, Zaza Nadiradze, head of the Consulate General of Georgia in Constantinople, Zurab Khonelidze, Rector of Sohumi State University, whose Ecumenical Patriarch was awarded an honorary doctorate in a special ceremony last November at the Phanar, and a number of believers from the Georgian-speaking Community of Constantinople attended the service.
Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Elias Jinjolava, priest of the Church and head of the Georgian-speaking Orthodox Community of Constantinople, presented to the Ecumenical Patriarch the publication in Georgian of the book “Bartholomew – Mission and Vision” by the Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Ioannis Chrysavgis.
The Rector, Zurab Khonelidze, who contributed decisively to its implementation, and Giorgi Pareshishvili, coordinator of the Georgian edition, spoke about the new edition, while the Georgian Ambassador to Turkey had earlier addressed a greeting.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, in his reply, among others, expressed his satisfaction to the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Elias Jinjolava, for his initiative to translate this biographical book into the Georgian language, as well as for the overall work he does in Constantinople.
He also thanked the speakers as well as all the contributors of the publication, while at the end of his speech, he addressed a fraternal greeting to Patriarch Ilia of All Georgia, who, as he said, is a leader who unites the entire Georgian people.
Immediately afterwards, the Choir “Erthoba”, from Georgia, sang ecclesiastical hymns, while at noon the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the meal held in the Community Hall.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
