Abraam Garmelia

Abraam Garmelia

Abraam Garmelia (geogr. აბრაამ გარმელია, real name Amiran Garmalia, born November 15, 1948 in Sochumi ) is Georgian bishop of the German diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Apostle Church .

Life

After attending primary school in Tbilisi, he studied at the Pushkin State Pedagogical Institute at the Faculty of History, which he graduated in 1971. After completing his studies, he devoted himself to educational research. 1986–1988 he studied theology at the seminary of Mtskheta. On January 3, 1988 Amiran Garmelia was ordained a monk by Metropolitan Zosime (Shioshvili) of Wilkneli, where he was given the name Abraam. In the same year he was ordained a deacon. On May 29, 1988, Abraam was ordained a priest by the Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. Initially he was in Sioni of Dmanisi, and later he was abbot of the Gelatic Monastery. From May 1989 to July 1990 he stayed at the Eastern Church Institute in Regensburg (Germany). From September 1, 1990 to October 30, 1991 he served in the Sioni Cathedral Church in Tbilisi. From September 1990 he gave lectures in the Old Testament at the theological academy and seminary in Tbilisi. On October 21, 1991, for his faithful service in the Church, he was appointed Archimandrite by Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. From October 30, he was abbot of the Svetitskhoveli Patriarchal Church . On December 21, 1992, he was elected Bishop of Nikorzminda by the Holy Synod of the Georgian Patriarchate . His consecration took place on December 25, 1992. From July 19, 1993 to February 1, 2003 he was rector of the theological academy and seminary in Tbilisi. From July 20, 1995 to October 17, 2002 he was head of the Foreign Office of the Georgian Patriarchate. 1996–1998 he headed the diocese of Sagaredscho and Gurdschaani and 1998–2002 the diocese of Chiatura . On December 25, 1996 he was appointed archbishop and on November 28, 2000 metropolitan . On October 17, 2002, through the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Western European diocese was created, which was subordinate to Metropolitan Abraam Garmelia.

Web links

• Metropolitan Abraam (Garmelia) of Western Europe