CATHOLIC PATRIARCH OF ALL GEORGIA BECAUSE OF THE DISTINCTION OF LEONIDE OKROPIRIDZE

Abstract

The Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church has undergone numerous challenging periods, but perhaps the most difficult time in this regard began after the abolition of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church (the Metropolitanship of Mtskheta was abolished in 1811, and the Patriarchates of Likht-Imereti and Abkhazia were dissolved in 1814). The events that followed are considered the most significant in the history of the Church. The end of this difficult period is marked by the restoration of the Georgian Church's autocephaly on March 25, 1917 (Old Style: March 12) in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. From this date onward, the governance of the Exarchate was ended, and a new phase in church life began, which involved the convening of an ecclesiastical assembly (for organizing church affairs) and the eventual election of a Catholicos-Patriarch. It is well known to researchers how the first ecclesiastical assembly of 1917 took place, during which Kirion Sadzaglishvili was elected as the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and how he was soon tragically murdered at the Martkopi Monastery. It is also well known who succeeded the patriarchal throne after the assassination of Kirion II. Naturally, neither the selection of Kirion Sadzaglishvili nor Leonide Okropiridze was without controversy. The tensions between the two Catholicoses were openly discussed, and the discord between them was further fueled by their supporters. Additionally, researchers are well aware that after the murder of Kirion II at Martkopi, no further ecclesiastical assembly was convened to elect a new patriarch. Based on the results and votes of the 1917 ecclesiastical assembly, the patriarchal council selected Leonide Okropiridze as the head of the Georgian Church. This event caused significant division among the members of the Georgian Church. Of particular interest to us are the archival documents preserved in the fund of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Leonide Okropiridze, which pertain to the issue of the murder of Kirion II and the selection of Leonide Okropiridze to the patriarchal throne.

Keywords: Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia; Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Kirion II; Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Leonide Okropiridze.