PM hails “crucial” role of Georgian Orthodox Church in anniversary of its independence
“We know very well that the Georgian Orthodox Church has always, throughout our history [...] passed down from generation to generation the core values that were related to our statehood, Georgian culture, the faith”, the PM said in remarks on the date. Photo: Government's Administration
Tweet 
Share
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili has praised the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church as “crucial” in the development of the nation, in comments marking an anniversary of the 1917 restoration of its independence from Russian religious authorities on Friday.
Speaking at the Sioni Cathedral in capital Tbilisi, where he attended a service celebrating the Day of the Restoration of Autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the head of the Government told the parish “Orthodoxy for every Georgian is connected with the Georgian identity [and] culture”.
“We know very well that the Georgian Orthodox Church has always, throughout our history [...] passed down from generation to generation the core values that were related to our statehood, Georgian culture, the faith”, the PM said in remarks on the date.
Photo: Government's Administration.
Garibashvili also credited Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia, for the international recognition gained by the Georgian church since the country restored its independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
March 25 marks the restoration of autocephaly - or self-governance - of the Georgian church from the Russian Orthodox structure. The country’s dominant religious confession had been granted autocephaly by Antioch in 457, before the status was abolished in 1811, following Georgia’s forceful incorporation into the Russian Empire.
Strongly opposed in Georgia, the move saw the local church structure subordinated to the synodical rule of the Russian Orthodox Church. The self-governance of the Georgian Church was restored in 1917, amid the disintegration of the Tsarist rule in Russia.
Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia, has responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the breakout of hostilities by calling for an end to the clashes “as soon as possible”.
The remains of the 17th century Georgian Queen Ketevan have returned from India to Georgia.Tortured in Persia for her faith, her remains were discovered during excavations at the abandoned Church Complex of St. Augustine in Goa, India in 2013.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 88 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 43 years now.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 87 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 42 years now.
Important issues for Georgia and current events in the world were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday joined celebrations of Georgian Orthodox Church followers of the Day of Apostle Andrew by stating the “values of the gospel have defined our identity, history, culture, statehood, and way of life.”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday noted the “great honour” and a “pleasure” in meeting Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, earlier during the day.
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.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday hailed the Svetitskhovloba holiday as a “symbol of all the precious values that unite us - our faith, spiritual strength, unity and Christian values”, in comments coming for the celebration of the ancient capital Mtskheta and the Svetitskhoveli cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage monument in the city.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday addressed the Georgian people marking the commemoration day of the One Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi, the government administration said.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday congratulated Yazidis living in Georgia on the opening of the “only” Yazidi church in the Eastern European and post-Soviet region, the Government Administration said.
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday pledged the body would investigate “all factual circumstances” around the alleged poisoning of Bishop Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens of Ilia II, the Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Christian Church.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said Saint Alexi Shushania, an outstanding secular and clerical figure, who had made “a great contribution” to the preservation of spirituality, the protection of the Georgian language and national values in Georgia, was among those whose achievements and dedication to the country deserved more recognition and appreciation.