It is a glorious feast not only for the Church but for all of Georgia, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at the Sioni Cathedral, where he attended today’s service of supplication honoring the restoration of the autocephaly of Georgia’s Apostolic Orthodox Christian Church.
“Exceptional hierarchs and clerics have been selflessly serving the Georgian Church and homeland for centuries, and the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia in one such extraordinary figure,” the Head of Government stated.
“I wish you a Happy Feast Day! It is a glorious feast not only for the Church but for all of Georgia. 104 years ago, on March 25, 1917, the Georgian Church regained autocephaly. Today marks a glorious celebration, the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. We all know that, at the time, it was a turning point in the life of our country and nation. As one of the most ancient Christian nations, we have always praised the Lord. For centuries, exceptional hierarchs and clerics have been selflessly serving the Georgian Church and homeland. Whenever our nation and country faced hardship, there embodied the homeland’s interests. And one such extraordinary representative of the Georgian Church is our Patriarch, who has been serving our homeland with exceptional loyalty and selflessness for forty years, strengthening the spirit of the Georgian Church and our nation alike. Consequently, I would like to reiterate my deepest respect for our Patriarch and wish him —along with the Synod, the Georgian Church, and all Orthodox Christians in our country—a Happy Feast Day, health and many years! Once again, I wish all of you a Happy Feast Day! May God protect us!” Irakli Garibashvili said.
The service of supplication at the Sioni Cathedral was celebrated by Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Shio and other clerics.
The Prime Minister attended the service of supplication at the Sioni Cathedral in the company of the President, Parliament Speaker, and Cabinet Members.
