Born in Kutaisi, he fled the Soviet regime to Western Europe with his brother and his sister, after Red Army invaded Georgia in 1921.
He studies in a Jesuit College before joining the University of Namur on philosophy and literature subjects.
He is sent to Orthodox Parish at Belfort, on the East part of France where Russian speaking refugees are working (Société alsacienne de constructions métalliques and Peugeot); he takes place in French Resistance against German Occupation ; fifty soviet prisoners caught by German army are hidden in the parish and can escape.
In 1945, he serves at the St. Seraphim of Sarov Church at Colombelles, on the West of France where Russian speaking refugees are also working (Société métallurgique de Normandie).
From June 1949 to March 1988, he serves at the Georgian Orthodox Eparchy of Saint Nino at Paris, depending on Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople by Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France: he became closely associated with local Georgian emigrated community.