Catholicos-Patriarch David V (Devdariani) of Georgia died on April 6, 1977. On March 25, 1917, the Georgian Orthodox Church proclaimed the restoration of its ancient autocephaly and its independence from the Russian Church. The Russian Church did not recognize the election of the new Catholicos-Patriarch Kyrion (+1918) and ceased Eucharistic Communion with the Georgian Church. In a letter to Patriarch Tikhon dated August 5, 1919, the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch explained that the incorporation of the Georgian Church into the Russian Church following the Russian Empire’s takeover of Georgia in 1801 was not canonically valid because it was an act of state rather than of the Church. Patriarch Leonide, elected Catholicos-Patriarch after Kyrion’s assassination in 1918, stated his grievance that the Russian Church did not invite representatives of the Church of Georgia and other local churches to its own Local Council. In 1943, the Russian Church recognized the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. Khariton Devdariani, the future Patriarch David, was born on March 24, 1903, into a military family in Mirotsminda in Kutaisi Provice. He studied at Shio Mghvimeli Monastery in Chiatura. He was ordained a deacon on February 27, 1927, and a priest on the following day. He served first in Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi and then in Kashveti Church. In 1956, he was blessed for episcopal ministry by Catholicos Melchizedek III, and on August 25 of that year, tonsured a monk with the name David. On August 28, he was consecrated Bishop of Margveti and Urbnisi. He taught Old Georgian and Church Slavonic at Mtskheta Theological Seminary. After the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Ephraim II, he was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia on July 1, 1972, while remaining the temporary administrator of Urbnisi Diocese. He was also the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Bodbe from 1973–1976. Unlike his predecessor, David was unpopular among many Georgians and perceived as being loyal to the Soviet Regime. He also took part in the officially sanctioned Soviet peace movement. Rumors circulated that his election had been rigged by the Soviet security services and that moral discipline in the church was lax under his leadership. Others, however, have pointed to the fact that he led a strict monastic life and was zealous in celebrating the Divine Services. Patriarch David V died on April 6, 1977, and was buried at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. He was succeeded by the current Patriarch Ilia II. Sources: Drevo-info.ru, https://drevo-info.ru/articles/11289.html. Ramet, Sabrina P. (1989), Religion and Nationalism in Soviet and East European Politics, pp. 35-6. Duke University Press, (via Wikipedia). Monk Benjamin (Gomartel), Letopis' tserkovnykh sobytii Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi nachinaia s 1917 goda. [Timeline of Church History Beginning with 1917]. Part I 1917-1927, Historical Studies of the Russian Church Abroad. | 
