Georgian PM, Greek monastery abbott note role of Mount Athos monastery as “link” in ties
The archimandrite called the government head a “friend of the church” while also noting his affection for the Georgian nation and many visits of its citizens to the monastery. He also praised Garibashvili for managing the country “very wisely” and noting the role of the Georgian Orthodox church.Photo: Government's Administration.
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Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and archimandrite Ephraim, the abbot of the Great Holy Monastery of Vatopedi of Mount Athos in Greece, met in Tbilisi on Friday and noted the role of the monastery as a “link” with Georgia.
Photo: Government's Administration.
The meeting between the government official and the religious figure involved exchanges on a previous visit of Garibashvili to the location and a “deep conversation”, Garibashvili was quoted as saying by the government administration.
The archimandrite called the government head a “friend of the church” while also noting his affection for the Georgian nation and many visits of its citizens to the monastery. He also praised Garibashvili for managing the country “very wisely” and noting the role of the Georgian Orthodox church.
An icon of Virgin Mary was presented by the religious figure to the Georgian official during the meeting, while Garibashvili presented the abbot with an icon of St. Nino, a saint believed to have brought Christianity to Georgia.
Photo: Government's Administration.
The meeting at the government administration also involved Georgian religious figures of the Orthodox Church, with the discussions followed by a dinner for the visiting archimandrite.
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Ties between churches of Georgia and Greece were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Archimandrite Ephraim, the abbot of the Great Holy Monastery of Vatopedi of Mount Athos in Greece.