Patriarch Ilia II blesses Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, “Guardian of Georgian frontiers”

Tbilisi, June 23, 2014

The idea of painting of this icon belongs to the spiritual mentor of Georgian frontier guards, cleric of the Svetitskhoveli Church Archpriest Michael Macharadze.

It was on his initiative that the icon, “Guardian of Georgian frontiers” was painted with the blessing of the Patriarch and with donations from the Georgian frontier guards.

At Svetitskhoveli the patriarch also blessed other “Guardian of the frontiers” icons, which will be kept in different departments of the border police. But the main icon will stay at the border police department (Kazbegi) of the Stepantsminda and Khevi Diocese.

Towards the end of the Sunday sermon at the Svetitskhoveli Church, Ilia II blessed the frontier guards as well.