"Today, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bitchvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II has turned 89 years old.

We congratulate His Holiness on this day with great love and respect.

We thank the Lord for giving us such an outstanding leader at an important time for our country and the Church. His Holiness has for many years tirelessly taught us faith in Christ, love, gratitude, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and caring for people.

We wish His Holiness and Beatitude health, encouragement and a long life!

May, by the grace of the Lord, he lead the Georgian Orthodox Church on the path to Christ's truth and the spiritual strengthening of the Georgian nation for a long time,” - the Georgian Patriarchate said in a statement.