2022-03-25
Role of the orthodox church of Georgia was and will always be vital for the development of our nation. It should be said straight that orthodoxy is linked with the Georgian identity and culture in the perception of every Georgian. It was stated by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Sioni Cathedral today when attending the service dedicated to the regained autocephaly of the apostolic orthodox church of Georgia together with the President and Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia today.
Service was performed at the Sioni Cathedral by the Co-Holder of the Patriarchy Throne - Metropolitan Shio along with other clergy.
After the service, the Head of Government of Georgia addressed the gathered audience from the pulpit and congratulated them on the Day Autocephaly Regained by the Orthodox Church of All Georgia.
"It is a great honor for me to congratulate you all on this day. Orthodox Church of Georgia is celebrating the Day of Regained Autocephaly today and I join the spirit of congratulations. We all know it well that Orthodox Church of Georgia has always been conveying and passing the key values related to our statehood, Georgian culture and faith from one generation to another throughout the history of the Georgian nation. It was and will always be the basis of Georgian essence, Georgian identity. It may be said without exaggeration that the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church has and will always be vital for the development of our nation. It should be said straight that orthodoxy is linked with Georgian identity and culture in the perception of every Georgian. Bishop Shio has recalled exceptional messages and statements made by our dignified ancestors. Irrespective of the war, the Georgian Orthodox Church has always been part of the global orthodox world. Decent children of our nation back then and always since than have been aspiring towards autocephaly and as Bishop Shio has noted that great fathers of the nation - Ilia Chavchavadze, Eqvtime Takaishvili, Dimitry Kipiani and others made the Georgian dream come true with diligent efforts taken with our prominent religious leaders who later turned into patriarchs - Kirion II, Kalistrate, Ambrosi Khelaia - and announced autocephaly on March 25, 1917. Nevertheless, as Bishop Shio noted, our church failed to gain broad recognition throughout the world until 1990. Of course, it is of great merits to our wise patriarch - Ilia II - that our church gained overwhelming recognition and it resulted from his widespread authority. Once again, I join the spirit of congratulations. Let this day be always a symbol of unification for our nation and respectively, I humbly congratulate the entire nation and clergy with this day. Let the God almighty be our protector!" - stated Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia.
Service performed at the Sioni Cathedral was attended by members of the executive and legislative authority of Georgia.
Press Service of the Government Administration