At the press-conference dedicated to the anniversary of the Holy Patriarch Ambrose Khelaia, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II told the audience about the merits of the Holy Patriarch.

The press-conference was held at the Georgian University under the Patriarchate of Georgia and was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Holy Patriarch Ambrose the Confessor (Khelaia).

As it was noted by Ilia II, the primary responsibility of the Patriarch is to never put at a risk the church and the country, and always take this blow over.

According to the Patriarch, the Holy Patriarch Ambrose the Confessor had exactly that quality.

The Holy Patriarch Ambrose the Confessor was born in 1861 in the village of Martvili at Zugdidi district. In 1887 he became the priests. He fought for the restoration of autocephaly of the Georgian Church, which is why in 1905 he was sent to Russia. In 1908 he was accused of complicity in the death of Russian Egzarhos Nikon. In 1911, he was acquitted, but despite this he was not given the right to return to Georgia.

The Holy Patriarch returned to Georgia in 1917 year. At first, he was erected to the rank of the Metropolitan of Chkondidi, and later to the rank of Metropolitan of Tskhum-Abkhazia. On 14th of October 1921, the Metropolitan Ambrose was elected the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

In 1922, the Holy Patriarch, on behalf of the Georgian people, sent a petition to the Genoa International Conference to withdraw the Red Cross and to hold a referendum on the independence of Georgia.

The appeal of the Patriarch was left without any response and the persecution of the Patriarch was continued. He was arrested and sentenced 8 years of imprisonment.

In 1924, the Patriarch was released under an amnesty.

The Catolicos-Patriarch Ambrose died on 29th of March 1927.

In 1995, the Georgian Orthodox Church has erected the Patriarch Ambrose Khelaia to the rank of a saint and gave him a name - St. Ambrose the Confessor.