Tbilisi, Georgia, January 30, 2026
Photo: oca.org
His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth led a delegation of the Orthodox Church in America to the feast of St. Nino, the Enlightener of Georgia, in Tbilisi this week. He was joined by Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, Dean of the OCA’s St. Catherine’s Representation Church in Moscow.
The delegation traveled to Georgia at the invitation of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II reports the OCA.
Bp. Gerasim and Fr. Daniel arrived on January 25, and the following day they met with His Eminence Metropolitan Andria of Gori and Ateni and other representatives of the Georgian Patriarchate to discuss areas for potential cooperation between the two Churches.
The Cross of St. Nino. Photo: oca.org
That evening, the OCA representatives attended the Vigil service for the feast at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi’s Old City, where the Cross of St. Nino was brought out for veneration.
On January 27, Bp. Gerasim and Fr. Daniel concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sioni Cathedral. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikoloz of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo, and Kars presided at the service, joined by Their Graces Bishops Michael of Tianeti and Grigol of Tsalka, along with clergy from the Tbilisi region.
Bp. Gerasim delivered the sermon, which begins at the 4:30 mark in the video below:
On January 28, Bp. Gerasim and Fr. Daniel visited the Tbilisi Theological Academy, where they were received by Protopresbyter George Zviadadze, the academy’s rector. Fr. George described Patriarch Ilia II’s work to reestablish the seminary during the Soviet period and its current expansion to include approximately 35 doctoral students. The discussion included possible coordination between the academy and theological institutions of the Orthodox Church in America.
Bp. Gerasim has maintained close ties with the Georgian Orthodox Church over the years. He most recently visited Georgia in September 2023 to attend a conference on modern saints and elders with Met. Nikoloz.
Last month, he was in Moscow for the patronal feast of the OCA’s Representation Church of St. Catherine, where Fr. Daniel serves as rector.
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