On Caucasus, between Black and the Caspian seas the country of the most ancient history and culture - Georgia is located. At the same time Georgia is one of the most ancient Christian countries of the world. At the time of apostolic in territory of modern Georgia there were two states: East Georgian Kartli (in Greek - Iberia), West Georgian Egrisi (in Greek - Colchis). Apostle Andrew preached both in East, and in the Western Georgia. In the Western Georgia, together with Apostle Andrew, the doctrine of the Christ was preached by Apostle Simon the Zealot (Simon Cananeus) who is buried in the same place, in new Atone.

     The state religion in Kartli the Christianity became in 4 century. This significant phenomenon in the Georgian history is connected with St. Nino, Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia, King Mirian and Queen Nana. The baptism of the country and arrival into the reign of the clergy is dated from 326th year. This date the historian of 5th century confirms Sozimon Salamansky, the author of the chronicle "Church history" where it is specified that official acceptance of Christianity in Georgia was right after the terminations of First Ecumenical Council (325y.).

     As to the Western Georgia, here distribution of Christianity and church existence to 1st half of IV centuries, undoubtedly that proves to be true participation of Stratofil, the bishop of Pitiunt on the Nicene Ecumenical Council.

     Since this time, Georgia and its church firmly steels on a way of Christianity and always unshakably protected the orthodox doctrine. The Byzantine historian of V century of Procopius of Caesarea notices that "Iberians are Christians, and articles of faith observe better, than all whom we know".

     Since the time of the adoption of Christianity (and before) the Georgian people throughout centuries had to struggle almost constantly against external enemies-conquerors. Persians and Arabs, Turkish Seljuks, Khwarezmians, Mongols, Turkish Ottoman Turks, together with a country gain tried to destroy and Christian religion. The Georgian people, in the hardest struggle, could keep statehood and protect Orthodoxy. Throughout centuries struggle for statehood was identified with struggle for Orthodoxy. Many ordinary citizens and people of spiritual rank have accepted the death of a martyr for Christ’s faith.

     Among glorified in a face sacred the Georgian church many worldly people, governors, whose patriotism, heroism and Christian self-sacrifice have set to us an example. Stirred up (princes David and Konstantin Mkheidze (VIII century), King Archil (VIII - a century), King Demeter killed by Mongols II (XIII century), the victim from the hands of Persians King Luarsab II (XVII) and Queen Ketevan stirred up by Persians (XVII)).

     Since declaration of Christianity as the state religion the Georgian church, despite a country tragic story, always was engaged in regenerative and educational affairs. The territory of the country is full of churches and monasteries. In honor of St. George who was always held special respect of the people and was considered as the Georgian’s patron, is constructed hundreds temples.

     Since XI century the representative of the Georgian Church carries a title of the Catholicos-Patriarch. In XII century great Georgian King David IV based Gelati monastery (near Kutaisi), and with him the Academy, which in all orthodox world has been recognized as the greatest theological and scientific school. During the same time, the second known academy - Ikalto operated also. Convocation of the Ruis-Urbnisi Council also is connected with David in 1103, which has considered the major questions in life of a country and church. Since V century, when were created the Georgian hagiographical works - The life of St. Nino, a martyrdom of Shushaniki, the Georgian people has created the unique literature. Christian art is worthy also. Throughout the centuries, being based on national traditions developed the civil and temple architecture, many samples are the best monuments of world art. Together with temple architecture, monumental painting – fresco, mosaic – had developed brilliantly. In the general evolution of the Byzantine painting the worthy place was occupied with the Georgian fresco.

     Georgians built churches and monasteries not only in Georgia, but also in Palestine, Syria, Cyprus and Bulgaria. A monastery in Jerusalem (now in jurisdiction of the Jerusalem patriarchy), a monastery of St. Jacob (in jurisdiction of the Armenian Church), Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos (This monastery is connected with the history of the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary), Petritsoni in Bulgaria.

     At various times in Georgia and outside worked famous Georgian theologians, philosophers, writers and translators - Peter the Iberian, Ephraim the Small, Ephraim and George the Athonites, John Petritsi, etc.

     In the XIX century, Georgia was joined to the Russian empire. From that time autocephaly of the Georgian Church was abolished, Patriarchal Throne was cancelled and the Georgian church, in the capacity of the Exarchate, was subordinated to the Synod of Russian church.

     In March 1917, in the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta was proclaimed the restoration of autocephaly of the Georgian Church. Russian Church at first did not recognize the restoration autocephaly, occurred as a result of prayer fellowship gap between the two Churches. Dialogue was restored in 1943 in the time of Patriarch Sergius (Stragorodsky) and the Catholicos-patriarch Kalistrate (Tsintsadze). In 1990, autocephaly of the Georgian Church was recognized by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

     Since 1977 and until now, his Holiness and Beatitude, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia is Ilia II.

     Since the end of 90th years of 20 century Georgian Orthodox Church is actively developing relations with the Christian world, the international non-Christian religious organizations and associations.

     29 May 2001, the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, in the framework of the UN "Dialogue among Civilizations", met with officials of the Iranian authorities and the clergy. The head of the Georgian Church said: "We need to promote dialogue among civilizations. Today the situation in the world is alarming, and religion can become a truly effective means of resolving their differences." In turn, the spiritual leader of Iran Ayatollah Taskhiri called a meeting of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church with Islamic ecclesiastics of Iran the first "meeting of religious figures of two countries for last decades". He has declared that "the higher ecclesiastics and intellectuals of two countries by close cooperation and mutual efforts could throw light on history of two civilizations".

     In September 2002, on the invitation of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, the representative of Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens arrived in Tbilisi, who brought shrine – St Andrew’s skull. The head of Greek Church spoke about the Georgian-Greek mutual relations, having mentioned, that they originate during a pre-Christian epoch, and their roots are lost in "mythological times". He also mentioned the role of the Orthodox Church in the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke.

     14 October 2002, the president of Georgia Edward Shevardnadze and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II signed the Constitutional agreement between the Georgian State and the Georgian Orthodox Church. The Constitutional Agreement was approved at a meeting of the Holy Synod, and ratified by the Parliament of Georgia. According to Edward Shevardnadze, «this document should play a “historical role in building of the independent state" and will help unite the nation as a single fist, to address challenges facing the country. Signed between the state and church the Constitutional agreement provides, first of all, the cooperation based on mutual respect and non-interference in the affairs of each other». The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II called the contract between the State and the Church "historic" and expressed the hope that it would become a model for other countries. 

     From 1 to 4 June 2003, on the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Russia Alexy, there was a delegation of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Moscow. There was expressed general belief that the spiritual brotherhood of the same faith of the people of Russia and Georgia makes that unshakable basis on which should be built relations between the two states. The exchange of opinions concerning the further steps directed on closer interaction of Churches-sisters has taken place.

     In September 2003, Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew visited to Georgia. His visit was connected to 1000 – the anniversary of the date of construction of a precious pearl of medieval Georgian architecture - a temple of Bagrati in Kutaisi.

     In April 2004, the head of Orthodox Church of the USA and Canada, Metropolitan Herman arrived in capital of Georgia with goodwill. He met the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. Religious and government leaders discussed issues of cooperation between the Orthodox churches of both countries.

     In July 2004, the delegation of the World Council of Churches, composed of the Deputy Secretary Georges Lemopoulos (Constantinople Patriarchate), Head of European Division Sylvia Raulo (The Finnish Lutheran Church) visited the Georgian Patriarchate. The parties expressed support for the development of cooperation in social, economic and cultural spheres of activity, stressing that the importance of such cooperation is especially important against the backdrop of contemporary processes of globalization and integration.

     In June 2005, on the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II’s initiative established a coordinating council of religious organizations in Tbilisi, which included representatives of almost all religious denominations of Georgia. The purpose of the organization is to promote the advancement of social background in Georgia and the joint care of the healthy lifestyles of young people. All representatives of the Council support the territorial integrity of Georgia.

     In June 2005, on the invitation of Sheikh of Muslims of all Caucasus Allahshukur Pashazade, has taken place visit of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II to Azerbaijan. Head of Caucasus Muslims and representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church "will continue to work together to Peace in the Caucasus." This is stated in the joint declaration, signed on June 7 in Baku. The paper noted that the Administration of Caucasian Muslims and the Georgian Orthodox Church "possess unique experience of interreligious cooperation, which bears kind fruit and may serve as instructive examples ". Heads of two faiths have expressed a common opinion that “the desire of peoples to live in good neighborhood, without alienating from each other, holding mutual understanding and mutual respect - this is the only way to guarantee the strong and fair world, consecrated with blessing Supreme". Pashazade and Ilia II condemned any actions that "deprive people the right to live in their home, encroach on territorial integrity, security and stability of two countries.

     In 2006, the World Summit of religious leaders took place in Moscow, in which took part the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. At the forum, it was the final message, in which religious leaders around the world urged to use religion as a foundation for peace and dialogue among civilizations, and not as a source of conflict. Religious leaders condemned all forms of terrorism and extremism and attempts to justify their religious as well as the activities of pseudo-religious groups and movements, noting that "the real deal with them is possible only through education and moral education".

     After the 2008 August war, in the date of 14, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, his Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, asked the President of Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev and the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for making passageway to enter Gori and Nikoz that was honored from the side of Russia. The Catholicos-Patriarch was the only person who helped bring the dead soldiers from the destroyed Georgian villages.

     9 December 2008, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, met the President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev. Ilia II announced to journalists, that he had big hope of this meeting’s results. After the war it was the first official contact between two countries.