„Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!“thanks be to God! That he gave us, to Serbian and to Georgian people opportunity to Glorify the Lord together on the feast day of St. Elia the Prophet!
The prophet Elias, who was taken up alive to Heaven on a fiery chariot, According to the tradition of Holy Church, he will be a Fore Runner of the Terrible Second Coming of Christ upon the earth and during the time of preaching, he will unmask the evil and will endure bodily death for Christ. May he pray for us to the Lord!!!
As you know, our orthodox church is praying for our life. We ask to the Lord for mercy, for grace, for forgiveness of our sins, for good defense at the dread judgment of Christ and many other blessings, but most important place in our prayers has Peace and unity… almost in all parts of holy services we pray to The God for peace and for unity and God blesses us by the words of priests with peace in unity “Peace be unto all”…
God’s glory seems in our friendship, in our brotherly relations and in our love. And today when we are together, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox people, let us ask again to the Lord for our countries well being, Peace and unity… let us ask to the lord for our pain, since Both of our countries share a similar fate…
Also, let us remember God’s suggestions and comfort… “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” So lets not be scared if the earth is taken away, because the heavens is given to us.
Nothing happens without the Lord’s will, and perhaps this peril was bestowed upon us to test our faith and to strengthen our spiritual path. May God will that we shall soon celebrate our countries’ unity, peace and prosperity.
Today is the Saint’s day of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi.
What can a child say about his parent? First of all to wish him health, longevity and happiness!!!
In the year 1977, when he was first given the title of Patriarch, our church was in a bad situation. The number of our parishioners was small and the Communist regime dominated the whole country. However, despite all these hardships, he was able to return the people back to the church and the future warriors of the independent Georgia grew up under him.
He also converted many Communist officials to Christianity, many of whom would say their confessions in secret. This is how new religious life was beginning in Georgia.
With God’s strength and mercy, he was able to regenerate religious and monastery life. He reopened ecclesiastic seminaries during the time when such a thing was unheard of. He was and is the peacemaker everywhere and in every matters between men and between people, he was the first person in the history of Soviet Union to ask the General secretary of the communist party to abolish the death penalty …
And with your permission, our dear hosts, our dear Serbian brothers and sisters, I would like to say a toast in the name of all Georgians living in California and also in your name to congratulate Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II!!! Truly, your spirit shines brilliantly before men and because of this we praise your father in Heaven both now and ever and unto the ages of ages…Amin!!!
I would like to thank you all in the name of Archbishop Dimitri and myself personally for the hospitality, the warmth and the love that you have shared towards the Georgian people. Many thanks to bishop Maxim, I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina. He is truly a brilliant person.
And of course, many thanks to my spiritual brother in Christ, our Father Jurica, who is also a brilliant person for all of us.
May God wish with the help of our patriarchs’ and our archbishops’ prayers, our countries’ prosperity and unification.
Amin!
ქრისტესმიერი სიყვარულით,მღვდელ-მონაზონი იოანე(კავსაძე).
სან ფრანცისკო, წმ. იოანე ნათლისმცემლის სერბული მართლმადიდებლური ტაძარი, 2 აგვისტო, კვირა, ილიაობა, სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქის ანგელოზის დღე.
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