TBILISI, April 25 – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia and the South Caucasus held its seventh synod meeting in Tbilisi on Saturday, bringing together church leaders, clergy from other religious groups and diplomats.
The meeting took place at the Reconciliation Church in the Georgian capital.
According to Georgia’s State Agency for Religious Issues, the meeting was attended by senior clergy from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia and Azerbaijan, representatives of different religious organizations and members of the diplomatic corps.
Bishop Rolf Bareis of the Evangelical Lutheran Church used his speech at the synod to honor the memory of Ilia II, the late Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Saturday marked 40 days since the death of the Georgian Orthodox patriarch, a significant memorial date in the Orthodox tradition.
Nino Chavchavadze, head of the strategic research, analysis and regional service at the State Agency for Religious Issues, attended the first part of the synod meeting and addressed both synod members and guests.
She said the agency’s inter-religious advisory council now brings together representatives of 14 religions, and described the Evangelical Lutheran Church as one of its active members.
“The Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the active members of the council, which has its own, sometimes different position on issues under discussion, which the religious agency greatly appreciates,” Chavchavadze said.
She also thanked Bishop Bareis for cooperation and wished success to the synod.
