Patriarch Ilia II consecrated Tbilisi

Several thousand people took part in the ceremony of consecration of the capital of Georgia. Patriarch Ilia II called for the authorities to release HIV-positive convicts and convicts ill with tuberculosis.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that the ceremony of consecration of Tbilisi held in accordance with a decision of Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II started yesterday concurrently in four districts of the city.

During the ceremony the clergymen said their prayers and sprinkled the streets with holy water. Divine liturgy was held on Metekh bridge. It was served by Catholicos Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II together with priests. The whole territory adjoining the bridge was occupied with clergymen and people who prayed, "Georgia Online" reports.

Patriarch himself took a decision of holding this action and consecration of Tbilisi in connection with a complex situation in the country on the eve of election. The priests and believers prayed for peace and calmness. According to the priests, liturgy is served only for the sake of the World and the country, ITRC "Mir" reports.

Before the beginning of the ceremony of consecration of Tbilisi Ilia II preached in the Cathedral of Holy Trinity about undue treatment of convicts and torture in prisons.

"It is inadmissible to offend a person who is already punished. Some people tried to convince me that there was no offense but in fact there was", Ilia II said.

During the sermon Patriarch called for the authorities to release HIV-positive convicts and convicts ill with tuberculosis, pirweli.com reports.