December 25 marks the 48th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The enthronement ceremony took place on December 25, 1977, at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Since that day, Ilia II has led the Georgian Orthodox Church, becoming one of the most enduring and influential spiritual leaders in the country’s history.

At the time of his enthronement, Georgia had 15 dioceses and just over 30 functioning cathedrals. Over the decades, the Georgian Orthodox Church has seen significant growth. Today, the number of dioceses has increased to 49, alongside a substantial rise in the number of churches, monasteries, clergy, monks, and nuns.

Currently, Georgia is home to approximately 2,000 functioning churches and monasteries, with around 3,000 clergy members, monks, and nuns serving across the country.