Georgian Orthodox Church information

Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia
Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia
	Coat of arms of the Orthodox Church of Georgia
Classification	Eastern Orthodox
Scripture	Septuagint, New Testament
Theology	Eastern Orthodox theology, Palamism
Polity	Episcopal polity
Primate	Ilia II of Georgia
Language	Georgian
Headquarters	Tbilisi, Georgia
Territory	Georgia
Possessions	Western Europe, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Australia, Armenia
Founder	Saint Andrew (Colchis); ; Saint Nino, Mirian III (Iberia)
Independence	From Antioch dates vary between 467-491 and 1010,; From Russia in 1917, 1943
Recognition	Autocephaly gradually conferred by the Church of Antioch and recognized by most of the Church, dates vary between 467-491 and 1010. Autocephaly quashed by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1811 on orders of the Tsar, partially restored in 1917, fully restored in 1943. Recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1990.
Separations	Abkhazian Orthodox Church (2009)
Members	3.5 million (2011)
Official website	www.patriarchate.ge
	^ See below, Autocephaly for details on the process ;

The Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია, romanized: sakartvelos samotsikulo avt'ok'epaluri martlmadidebeli ek'lesia), commonly known as the Georgian Orthodox Church or the Orthodox Church of Georgia, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with the other churches of Eastern Orthodoxy. It is Georgia's dominant religious institution, and a majority of Georgian people are members. The Orthodox Church of Georgia is one of the oldest churches in the world. It asserts apostolic foundation, and that its historical roots can be traced to the early and late Christianization of Iberia and Colchis by Andrew the Apostle in the 1st century AD and by Saint Nino in the 4th century AD, respectively. As in similar autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian churches, the church's highest governing body is the holy synod of bishops. The church is headed by the Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, who was elected in 1977.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity was the state religion throughout most of Georgia's history until 1921, when the country, having declared independence from Russia in 1918, was conquered by the Red Army during the Soviet invasion of Georgia, becoming part of the Soviet Union.^[4] The current Constitution of Georgia recognizes the special role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the country's history, but also stipulates the independence of the church from the state. Government relations are further defined and regulated by the Concordat of 2002.

The Georgian Orthodox Church is the most trusted institution in Georgia. According to a 2013 survey, 95% respondents had a favorable opinion of its work.^[5] It is highly influential in the public sphere and is considered Georgia's most influential institution.^[6]^[7]

^ "Turkey remains on religious freedom "Watch List"". Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 29 April 2010.
^ Meyendorff, John (1996). The Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World Today. St Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-913836-81-1.
^ Cite error: The named reference Grdzelidze2011a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "A Retrospective on the 1921 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia". Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
^ "Georgia's mighty Orthodox Church". BBC News. 2 July 2013.
^ Funke, Carolin (14 August 2014). "The Georgian Orthodox Church and its Involvement in National Politics". Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) emerged as Georgia's most respected and influential institution.
^ Rimple, Paul (21 November 2014). "Russia: Sochi Bets on Becoming the Black Sea Monte Carlo". EurasiaNet. The Georgian Orthodox Church, the country's most influential institution...

[3] See below, Autocephaly for details on the process

[archons393-1] "Turkey remains on religious freedom "Watch List"". Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 29 April 2010.

[2] Meyendorff, John (1996). The Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World Today. St Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-913836-81-1.

[Grdzelidze2011a-4] Cite error: The named reference Grdzelidze2011a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] "A Retrospective on the 1921 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia". Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

[6] "Georgia's mighty Orthodox Church". BBC News. 2 July 2013.

[7] Funke, Carolin (14 August 2014). "The Georgian Orthodox Church and its Involvement in National Politics". Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) emerged as Georgia's most respected and influential institution.

[8] Rimple, Paul (21 November 2014). "Russia: Sochi Bets on Becoming the Black Sea Monte Carlo". EurasiaNet. The Georgian Orthodox Church, the country's most influential institution...

Georgian Orthodox Church information

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List of heads of the Georgian Orthodox Church

Eparchies of the Georgian Orthodox Church

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Holy Synod

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Polish Orthodox Church

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Orthodox Church in America

Melchizedek I of Georgia

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Religion in the Soviet Union

Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi

Catholicos

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Eastern Orthodox Church
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