Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III: Amid untold temptations seeking to replace faith, we must remember that divine love and justice are timeless moral pillars

“I warmly congratulate you on the 1,700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia. I extend a heartfelt welcome to the clergy, parliamentary delegations, and leaders of European Christian churches and international ecclesiastical organisations who have joined us from across the globe to share in the joy of this jubilee,” stated His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, addressing the international conference Foundations of European Civilisation and 1,700 Years of Christianity in Georgia.

The Catholicos-Patriarch stated that, beyond commemorating a remarkable historical milestone, today’s conference offers an opportunity to reflect on the Georgian people’s centuries-old Christian journey and the profound spiritual and statehood heritage that has shaped the nation’s character and become a core foundation of its identity.

“The resolute decision taken by our ancestors 1,700 years ago firmly established Georgia’s rightful place among world civilisations,” Patriarch Shio III declared. “Yet the foundation of this multi-centennial path, nourished by the love of Christ, was laid as early as the first century with the arrival of the Holy Tunic of the Lord and the designation of Georgia as the earthly domain of the Most Holy Mother of God. Through the preaching of the Holy Apostles Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Zealot, the Georgian people received the light of Christ, before the equal-to-the-apostles St Nino eternally sealed the Saviour’s faith in our nation’s heart in the fourth century.”

“Christianity became far more than a personal spiritual life; it defined the entire cultural and intellectual life of the realm. It shaped the worldview and national-religious identity of the Georgian nation. Upon these Christian roots sprang the whole of subsequent Georgian literature, art, culture, education, and public philosophy. While empires crumbled and were swallowed by the tides of history, the Georgian nation, fortified by faith in Christ and clad in Christian values, preserved its faith, language, and homeland.

Christian thought and faith have infused European civilisation with an entirely different spiritual and moral dimension. Our country, by virtue of its geographical location and history, has since time immemorial stood at the crossroads of diverse cultures and civilisations. For centuries, Georgia developed within the shared sphere of the rich theological, intellectual, and cultural thought of Byzantium, the Christian East, and Europe. Through this connection, the Georgian nation not only preserved its unique identity but also made a distinctive contribution to the spiritual treasury of global Christianity,” he continued.

Turning to modern global challenges, the Catholicos-Patriarch cautioned against the erosion of traditional morality:

“Today’s world confronts us with new trials: wars, discord, malice, and untold temptations that seek to supplant faith and moral values. At such a time, we must remember that love of God and neighbour, mercy, duty, justice, tolerance, and the pursuit of peace are moral virtues anchored in Christian doctrine whose essence remains unaltered by the passage of time.

It is immensely reassuring that this conference devotes particular attention to paramount values such as the institution of the family and traditional heritage. The family is the sacred sphere where a person learns love, fidelity, duty, respect, and care for others. It is not merely a private domain, but the bedrock of morality and national identity; the stability of the family guarantees a strong and unified state.

Today, society profoundly needs the Church, civic bodies, and state institutions to engage in respectful dialogue on these crucial topics. This will greatly assist in deepening our understanding of Christian teachings on modern issues, bolstering the institution of the family, and strengthening our responsibility toward future generations,” Patriarch Shio III concluded.