Christophorus III (Tsitskishvili) of Georgia
His Holiness and Beatitude Christophorus III (Tsitskishvili) of Georgia, (Georgian: ქრისტეფორე III, K'ristep'ore III), was the Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia of the Church of Georgia from 1927 to 1932.
Life
Christophorus was born Kristepore Tsitskishvili (Georgian: ქრისტეფორე ციცქიშვილი) on March 27, 1873 near the town of Kharagauli in Georgia. He attended the Tiflis Theological Seminary, graduating in 1895. After his graduation, Kristepore entered the Holy Orders and was ordained deacon and then priest. Fr. Kristepore served as priest in the Trans-Caspian region of Russia for a period before being transferred to Georgia. He also was tonsured a monk with the name Christophorus.
In addition to his clerical duties, Fr. Christophorus taught theology and the Georgian language. He also became active in the movement to regain autocephaly for the Church of Georgia. In late March 1917, the Church of Georgia declared itself autocephalous following the 1917 February revolution in Russia. Fr. Christophorus participated in the restored autocephalous Georgian church administration that soon fell under the domination of the Bolshevik government that had assumed power in Russia and extended its control to include Georgia.
Fr. Christophorus was consecrated as Bishop of Urbnisi in 1921. In 1925, he was appointed Metropolitan of Abkhazia. After the death of Catholicos-Patriarch, Metr. Christophorus was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia on June 4, 1927, and led the Georgian church through the following years under the harsh rule of Soviet authorities.
Catholicos-Patriarch Christophorus III died on January 10, 1932.
| Christophorus III (Tsitskishvili) of Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: ? |
Bishop of Urbnisi 1921-1925 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: ? |
Metropolitan of Abkhazia 1925-1927 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: Ambrose (Khelaia) |
Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia 1927-1932 |
Succeeded by: Callistratus (Tsintsadze) |
Source
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by century > 20th-century bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Bishops of Abkhazia
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Bishops of Urbnisi
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Catholicos-Patriarchs of Georgia
