Born in the village of Shemokmedi (Guria, Georgia), he studied at the Theological Seminary in Tbilisi and later graduated from the Veterinary Institute of Warsaw (Poland).
Lahir di desa Shemokmedi (Guria, Georgia), ia belajar di Seminari Teologi di Tbilisi dan kemudian lulus dari Institu Veteriner Warsawa (Polandia).