Georgian Patriarch’s Easter message: In difficult times, we especially think about “precious gift” from God - peace

The annual Easter epistle of the Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II, delivered on Easter Eve at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, said “We live in difficult times when the threat of a nuclear disaster is real, and so we especially think about peace - a “precious gift” from God.

"Only in times of peace” it is possible for individuals to “clearly realise” their purpose in life, and a “war is the counterforce of peace, it is an utmost evil, it is a violation of God's commandments and taking the lives of many”, the epistle said.

It was emphasised that “categorical thinking” and “aggressive speech” of many sides of Georgian society, motivated by the concern for the country, was resulting in “sharp polarisation”.

For centuries, our country [Georgia] has repelled the invasions of enemies and we have always cherished peace. Even today, the country is going through the most difficult period, and it is our duty to take care of our peaceful tomorrow, take care of the development and prosperity of the country, create the basis for peaceful coexistence with our brothers - Abkhazians and Ossetians”, the Patriarch Ilia II noted in his epistle.

The Patriarch’s epistle said freedom was given by God as a gift to people, but it was “categorically unacceptable” to consider it by “some part of the modern society” as “the right to everything". 

The establishment of the right to everything is done by neglecting morality and losing the true meaning of this word [...] That is why everyone talks about freedom, love, human dignity, but today it has a radically different meaning”, the epistle said.