Georgian 2

Georgian 2

The Georgian Orthodox church was autocephalous, meaning that it had an independent ecclesiastical body. Annexation by the Russian government in 1801 resulted in the loss of its political and ecclesiastical independence. During the 1920's the church community experienced severe persecution by the Soviet government. When Stalin came to power the situation grew easier as Stalin himself was a member of this religious community and had even attended a Georgian seminary. This is a newly painted icon in Zagorsk, Russia. [BM] {ED}