Borjomi, Georgia, November 20, 2020
Photo: patriarchate.ge
His Grace Bishop Lazar (Samadbegishvili) of Borjomi and Bakuriani of the Georgian Patriarchate reposed in the Lord today at the age of 65.
He died of severe illnesses aggravated by COVID-19, reports the Georgian Church.
A spokesman for the Patriarchate stated that he had a tumor and recently underwent surgery.
His body will lie in repose in the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Mt. Makhata. His funeral will be served on Sunday at 10:00 AM, and at 3:00 PM, he will be buried near the Church of Sts. John, Ekvtime and George Mtatsmindelebi on Mt. Makhata.
Bp. Lazar is the third Orthodox hierarch to die today. His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia reposed early this morning, as did His Eminence Metropolitan Theophan of Kazan of the Russian Church.
May their memories be eternal!
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Bp. Lazar was born on July 20, 1955 in Tbilisi. He was ordained to the diaconate on March 7, 1982, and to the priesthood on March 21. In the 1980s, he served in the Kashveti Church of St. George in Tbilisi. From late 1990 to 1995, he served in the Georgian dependency in Moscow. From 1995 to 1997, her served as rector of the Batumi Theological Seminary.
On April 19, 1997, he was tonsured as a monk. Beginning in 2003, he served in various Georgian churches in Germany, Austria, and Denmark.
On June 11, 2014, he was consecrated as bishop of the newly-established Austrian and German Diocese of the Georgian Patriarchate. On January 2, 2017, he was transferred to the Diocese of Borjomi.
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