Ilia II
Ilia II (secular name Irakli Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili) (b. January 4, 1933, Ordzhonikidze (prsent-day Vladikavkaz) – d. March 17, 2026, Tbilisi), Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (from 1977 until his death), Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia. His parents (father – Giorgi Shiolashvili, mother – Natalia Kobaidze) were devout Christians. Ilia II was baptized in the Georgian Church (founded by G. Shiolashvili in 1947) and was named Irakli in honor of the King of Kartli-Kakheti, Erekle II.
In 1952, he entered the Moscow Theological Academy. On April 16, 1957, he was ordained a monk by Metropolitan Zenobius (Mazhuga) in the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tbilisi and given the name of the Prophet Elijah, then Patriarch Melchizedek III ordained him a hierodeacon in the Sioni Cathedral. Having been ordained a hierodeacon, Ilia II was ordained a hieromonk by Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Russia at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and awarded him with a golden breastplate.
In 1960, the hieromonk Ilia graduated with honors from the Moscow Theological Academy and was awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology for his work: History of the Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, after which he returned to Georgia and began his religious service at the Batumi Cathedral. In 1961, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen, and then to the rank of archimandrite. On August 26, 1963, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ephraim II consecrated Ilia the bishop of Shemokmedi. At the same time, he was appointed as the chorbishop, and in 1967 — as the archpriest of Tskhum-Abkhazia. In 1969, he was granted the honor of metropolitan. He was the rector of the Mtskheta Theological Academy from 1963 until 1972.
He worked productively in both the Shemokmedi and Tskhum-Abkhazian dioceses, was actively involved in meetings of representatives of the Orthodox Churches of the world, and worked for the international recognition of the autocephaly of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia. On November 9, 1977, after the death of Catholicos-Patriarch David VI, by the decision of the Holy Synod, Ilia Shiolashvili was appointed locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, and on December 23, 1977, Metropolitan Ilia was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. On December 25 of the same year, Ilia Shiolashvili was enthroned as Catholicos-Patriarch in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta.
Ilia II tirelessly cared about gathering the parishioners and attracting broad masses, especially the youth. Sermons became more frequent and systematic throughout Georgia; Psalms were read continuously in all churches; important measures were taken to publish religious literature; the printing and distribution of the Catholicos-Patriarch's Christmas and Easter epistles began; several types of church calendars were published. Through Ilia II's efforts, the following magazines were founded: “Jvari Vazisa” (Cross of the Grapevine), “Saghvtismetkvelo Krebuli” (Theological Collection), “Sakartvelos Sapatriarko” (Patriarchate of Georgia), “Sapatriarkos Utskebani” (Patriarchate's Statements), etc. The books of the Old and New Testaments, the Nomocanon, the Bible, volumes of Ilia II's epistles, words and sermons, and others were published. Under his leadership, the Mission and Evangelization Department, the Educational Committee, and the Publishing Department were created; A press center is operating, the newspaper “Madli” is published; a youth center has been created. The Patriarchate's television station “Ertsulovneba”, which he founded, is of great importance.
Ilia II's contribution to the improvement of international relations is special. He continued the fight for the autocephaly of the Georgian Church, which began in the 1960s, and brought it to the end — the issue of the worldwide recognition of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church was discussed on January 23, 1990, at the session of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (Ecclesiastical). On March 4, 1990, Ilia II received a special certificate from the Patriarch of Constantinople, Demetrius I, confirming the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. The name of Ilia II is associated with the mass restoration and construction of churches in Georgia. The construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi should be especially noted.
Ilia II paid great attention to the education in the country. Through his efforts, the Tbilisi Theological Academy (1988), the Gelati Academy of Sciences (1995), the Saint King Tamar University (2004) and Saint Andrew the First-Called Georgian University (2008) and other educational institutions were founded. In order to improve the demographic situation, Ilia II introduced universal baptism, which was first held on January 19, 2008. The Patriarch became the godfather of every third and subsequent child of parents who were baptized.
With the Patriarch’s support, almshouses were opened near the Patriarchal Church and in other parts of the country. He took care of Georgians living abroad, and his meetings with Georgian emigrants in European countries, Iran, Turkey, Saingilo, etc., were important.
Under the leadership and blessing of Ilia II, the canonization of dignified Georgian patriots has taken place over the past thirty years. The Georgian Church has canonized Ilia Chavchavadze, the parents of Saint Nino – Sosana and Zabulon, Ambrosius of Georgia, Metropolitan Nazarius with the congregation, Bishop of Imereti Gabriel Kikodze, Tsotne Dadiani, Tbeli Abuserisdze, Tevdore Adjareli, Priest Tevdore, monks and nuns from Klarjeti, Kyrion III, Ekvtime Takaishvili, Dimitri Kipiani, and others.
The name of Ilia II is associated with the restoration and renewal of Georgian hymns. The Patriarch himself is the author of several hymns (“Holy God”, “I am tired”, “Kyrie Eleison”, etc), musical works (mainly in Georgian, dedicated to the Virgin Mary), which have gained universal recognition worldwide. Ilia II was also distinguished as a talented painter (the fresco of Tamar in the Didube Church, the Holy Trinity Icon in the Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the Virgin Mary in the Patriarchal Residence of Manglisi, Vakhtang Gorgasali in the Rustavi Church, etc). Through the efforts of the Patriarch, a school of iconography was established at the Tbilisi Theological Academy.
Under the leadership of the Patriarch of Georgia, a constitutional agreement (concordat) between the state and the church was concluded.
On October 7, 2002, the Grand Scientific Council of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University elected Ilia II an honorary doctor, and on March 11, 2005, the Georgian National Academy of Sciences elected him an honorary academician.
In 1997, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his enthronement, he was awarded the Order of David the Builder; he received the highest awards of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (of Constantinople), the Patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia; Poland, Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia) and almost all other Orthodox Churches. He was a Doctor of Theology of the New York Theological Academy, an honorary member of the Crete Theological Academy, a member of the International Informatization Academy at the United Nations, and a Doctor of Theology from the St. Tikhon Theological Seminary of the Orthodox Church of America.
Patriarch's attempt to introduce Georgian (mainly church) art to foreigners was carried out in 2022, when a presentation of Georgian folk music (hymns) and “Ave Maria” composed by Ilia II was held in the Vatican under the patronage of the Pope.
Literary work: ეპისტოლენი, სიტყვანი, ქადაგებანი (ორტომეული), თბ., 1997.
Literature: დიდნი საქმენი, თბ., 2011; ილია II – სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქი, ოთხტომეული, მთ. რედ. მ. ალუდაური, ტ. 1–3, თბ., 2016–17; მეტრეველი რ., პატრიარქი – ერის სულიერი მამა, თბ., 2008; მრავალსა წელსა. ფოტოალბომი, თბ., 2015; ნათელი ქრისტენი – საქართველო, თბ., 2003; საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქები, რედ. რ. მეტრეველი, თბ., 2000; სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქს. კრებული, მიძღვნილი უწმიდესი და უნეტარესი ილია II-ისადმი, თბ., 2007; ჯაფარიძე ა., საქართველოს სამოციქულო ეკლესიის ისტორია, თბ., 1996.
R. Metreveli
