Georgian Patriarch wishes for peace in New Year’s Eve address

Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Christian Church, on Monday congratulated citizens on New Year’s Eve by wishing them peace. 

In his message for the festive season, the leader of the Church noted a past custom of well-wishes between individuals in the country.

A few centuries ago there was a rule among people [where] they met each other and wished each other to ‘rejoice at home and outside of it’”, he said.

Extending the same wish to individuals across Georgia, the Patriarch added “peace be with you” in his end-of-year comments.