Georgian PM hails Orthodox Church Patriarch's “leadership” on 47th anniversary of enthronement

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday praised the “enduring spiritual leadership” of Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, in comments marking the 47th anniversary of his enthronement.

Our nation has been blessed with the great happiness of having gone through recent history, an era of dramatic changes and challenges, under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness, the Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II”, the PM said in an official statement.

He commended the top cleric for his “almost half-century of unwavering dedication to the Church, the country, and its people”, noting the Catholics Patriarch’s “wisdom, unconditional love for God, homeland and humanity”.

The PM also highlighted the Patriarch’s role as a “unifying figure”, saying “His Holiness has set an example for us, united us, and filled us with faith in the future”. 

In his congratulatory message, Kobakhidze expressed heartfelt wishes, saying, “I congratulate His Holiness on the 47th anniversary of his enthronement and wish him good health and longevity for the benefit of our people and country”.