Hieromonk Sabba Kevlishvili gave a presentation at a conference dedicated to the life and historical legacy of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II.
The author discussed the main stages of Ilia II’s ministry in chronological and thematic order: Choosing the clerical path under the Soviet totalitarian regime, taking charge of a completely paralyzed ecclesiastical institution in 1977, and its subsequent revival from the ashes.
Attention is paid to the Patriarch’s role as a peacemaker during the most critical periods of Georgia’s recent history, when His Holiness managed to keep the Church as a place for the unification of opposing sides. The presentation offers a balanced reflection on the challenges that accompanied a half-century of exceptionally complex governance.
The lecture emphasizes that the shortcomings of the Church as an earthly institution do not diminish the Patriarch’s monumental contribution, but rather reveal the weight of his responsibility and the power of his unconditional forgiveness. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)