2017-12-25
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"Your Holiness,
The 40th anniversary of your enthronization is a great feast for all of us. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart on this important day. Your tenure as Patriarch, in terms of spirituality, has been God's gift granted to our country, a phenomenon of truly historic proportions. I humbly bow my head to your merit in serving our nation and country.
I wish you many years for the benefit of our country. With you as Patriarch, many churches have been revived, renovated, and built, and monasticism has made a comeback, all of which must be credit to you personally. Every instruction in your sermons is our nation's guiding light. Through your personal example, you have always imbued us with virtues and forbearance, which brings all of us great joy. Once again, please accept my congratulations and wishes for many years and health for the empowerment of our nation, our country, and our Church, and for the ever-growing encouragement of our nation," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili congratulated His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All-Georgia Ilia II after today's Divine Liturgy served at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
The liturgy, officiated by the Patriarch together with the hierarchs, was attended by the Prime Minister in the company of his spouse and younger son.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, 2017 is an important year in that, besides the 40th anniversary of the Patriarch's enthronement, it also marks the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Georgian Church's autocephaly and the 85th anniversary of the birth of His Holiness.
"One hundred years have passed since the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church, and our cherished and beloved Patriarch has turned 85. Today, we celebrated these great festive events. I would like to congratulate you on this very important day. I would like to wish the Patriarch health and many years to comfort our nation and our country in the years to come," the Prime Minister told the press.
Prime Minister's Press Office