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Kirion II (Sadzaglishvili) of Georgia

No change in size, 02:10, April 27, 2008
Life: spelling and grammar
In August 1898, Arch. Kirion was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[bishop]] of Alaverdi, and immediately began restoration work on the Alaverdi Church for which he used much of his own resources. He also continued archaeological efforts in eastern Georgia, particularly in Kakheti and Hereti. Among the artifacts he recovered was a [[Holy Gospel]] from 1089 that had not been known to scholars. In 1901, Bp. Kirion was installed as bishop of Gori.
By the early twentieth century, Bp. Kirion became the favorite among the [[clergy]] of the Georgian [[exarch]]ate in their efforts to restore autocephaly for the Georgian Church. Recognizing his popularity, the Russian government frequently transferred Bp. Kirion to different parts of the Russian Empire in order to blunt his influence. Starting in 1903, he was transferred in succession to Cherson, followed by a move to Orel in 1904, and in 1906 a transfer to Sokhumi. In Sokhumi, he exerting exerted every effort to restore and revive Georgian churches, which resulted in his transfer to the Kovno [[diocese]].
In 1905, the Russian government formed an extraordinary commission to formally consider the question of autocephaly for the Georgian Church and thus satisfy Georgian demands made under the leadership of St. [[Ilia the Righteous|Ilia]] (Chavchavadze) the Righteous. Bp. Kirion gave two presentations to the commission on the Georgian struggle favoring restoration of autocephaly. However, the Georgian claims were rejected by the commission, and the Georgian leaders were repressed harshly.
Repressions came heavily on Bp. Kirion. He was denied permission to attend the funeral of SSt.t Ilia after his assassination in 1907. In 1908, he was accused of conspiring in the murder of the [[Exarch]], Nikon, for which he was deprived of his rank as bishop and arrested. These actions brought indignation from both the Georgian and Russian people, as well as from democratic elements in Europe.
In 1915, the government repression on Bp. Kirion came to an end. His rank as bishop was restored, and he was elevated to [[Archbishop]] of Polotsk and Vitebsk in western Russia. However, he was not allowed to return to Georgia. With the fall of the Romanov dynasty in Russia, the Georgian Church declared its autocephaly in March 1917. In response to the demands of the Georgian people, Abp. Kirion returned to Georgia. He was welcomed back warmly and was met with great honors on his arrival in Tbilisi.
In September 1917, Abp. Kirion was enthroned by the [[Holy Synod]] of the Georgian Orthodox Church as Kirion II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. While Georgia celebrated its declaration of independence on [[May 26]], 1918, after which Catholicos-Patriarch Kirion II celebrated a service of thanksgiving the next day, however, the perception grew of that the imminence imminent rising of rising Bolshevik danger power would pose a great threat to the Georgian republic and its Church.
On June 27, 1918, Kirion II was found murdered in the patriarchal residence in Martqopi Monastery. The guilty were not identified after a formalistic investigation was conducted.
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