Patriarch publishes letter of condolence

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, responds to the death of Archpriest John and publishes a letter of condolence. “Schiarchimandrite John (Vakhtang Jishkariani) has rested in God. He was born in Sukhumi and has been connected with the Church since 1997. He went through a difficult path. He served in the Monastery of the Fathers of the Gods, in Kvatakhevi, Kozifa, Bolnisi, Mkinvartsveri, Armazi… During this period, there were also obstacles. However, we cannot forget his service in the Monastery of St. George in Lomis, especially during the first period of his stay here (since 2008). He had to live completely alone in the impassable snow, frost, without electricity or heating at all; he was literally hungry, surviving only on wheat and water. The result of this was and is that our parishioners can freely go to the Lomis Cathedral to pray. It is perhaps also symbolic that his body is being carried to Lomis today “May God forgive the sins of the archimandrite John and grant his immortal soul rest in the abode of the righteous, Amen!” Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, “- says the letter of condolence.