December 25 is the day of the enthronement of Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia. Ilia II was enthroned as Patriarch at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the historical town of Mtskheta on December 25, 1977, when he was 44 years old.
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II has officially been the spiritual head of the Georgian Orthodox Church for 43 years. His Holiness will turn 88 in January.