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The '''Church of Georgia''' is one of the oldest Christian Churches, tracing its origins in tradition to the [[missionary]] efforts of the [[Apostle Andrew]] in the first century. Historically, adoption of Christianity by the kingdom of Georgia (Iberia) is traced to the missionary efforts of St. [[Nino of Cappadocia ]] beginning in early fourth century. Initially, the Georgian [[church]] was part of the territory of the [[Patriarchate of Antioch]]. The church was granted [[autocephaly]] by the Patriarch of Antioch in 466. While seriously disrupted by the invasions of the various tartar tribes in the 13 and 15th centuries the autocephalous church survived until it was placed under the administration of the synodal [[Church of Russia]] in 1811. After the abdication of Czar [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]] following the 1917 February Revolution, the Georgian [[hierarch]]s restored autocephaly that was eventually recognized by the [[Church of Constantinople]] and the [[Church of Russia]].

The full title of the [[primate]] of the Church of Georgia is: "His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-[[Patriarch]] of all Georgia, [[Archbishop]] of Mtskheta and Tbilisi" (Georgian: უწმიდესი დ�? უნეტ�?რესი, სრული�?დს�?ქ�?რთველ�?ს კ�?თ�?ლიკ�?ს-პ�?ტრი�?რქი, მცხეთ�?-თბილისის მთ�?ვ�?რეპისკ�?პ�?სი) ====Recent Catholicos-Patriarchs of All Georgia====* Kirion II - (1917-1918)* Leonide - (1918-1921)* Ambrosi - (1921-1927)* Christefore III - (1927-1932)* Kalistrare - (1932-1952)* Melkisedek III - (1952-1960)* Eprem II - (1960-1072)* David V - (1972-1977)* Ilia II - (1977 to present)— ===Dioceses of Georgia===* Dioceses in Georgia** [[Diocese of Mtskheta and Tbilisi]]** [[Diocese of Alaverdi]]** [[Diocese of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo]]** [[Diocese of Batumi and Skhalta]]** [[Diocese of Bodbe]]** Diocese of Bolnisi** Diocese of Borjomi and Bakuriani** Diocese of Chiatura** Diocese of Chqondidi** Diocese of Dmanisi** Diocese of Khoni and Samtredia** Diocese of Kutais-Gaenati** Diocese of Manglisi and Tsalka** Diocese of Margveti and Ubisa** Diocese of Mestia and Svaneti** Diocese of Nikortsminda** Diocese of Nikozi and Tskhinvali** Diocese of Poti and Khobi** Diocese of Rustavi and Marneuli** Diocese of Samtavisi and Gori** Diocese of Senaki and Chkhorotsqu** Diocese of Shemokmedi ** Diocese of Stephantsminda and Khevi** Diocese of Tsageri and Lentekhi** Diocese of Tsilkani and Dusheti** Diocese of Tskhum-Apkhazeti ** Diocese of Urbnisi and Ruisi** Diocese of Vani and Bagdati ** Diocese of Zugdidi and Tsaishi * Dioceses partly abroad Georgia ** Diocese of Akhaltsikhe, Tao-Klarjeti and Lazeti (partly in Turkey)** Diocese of Nekresi and Hereti (partly in Azerbaijan)* Dioceses abroad Georgia** Diocese of Agaraki and Tashiri (Armenia)** Diocese of West Europe (Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria) ==External links==* [http://www.patriarchate.ge Website of the Church of Georgia]* [[Wikipedia:Church of Georgia]] [[Category:Jurisdictions|Georgia]] {{churches}}