March 24 and 25 hold special significance for our church and country as they mark the restoration of autocephaly and the recognition of the historical autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Georgian Patriarchate stated.

March 25, 1917, stands as a pivotal moment when the autocephaly of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church was restored after more than a century of absence.

“This restoration symbolized a profound historical achievement of paramount importance for both the church and the country.

However, the journey towards full recognition of this restored autocephaly was not complete until 1990. On the first Sunday of Great Lent, traditionally celebrated as Orthodoxy Sunday (then observed on March 4), His Holiness Dimitrios I, Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, officially recognized the historical autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church. This significant event was made possible through the tireless efforts of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

On the same day, March 4, 1990, the Ecumenical Patriarch also conferred upon the Church of Georgia a second certificate confirming its patriarchal status,” the Patriarchate stated.