“The independence and autocephaly of the Georgian church were restored a century ago. However, it took our saint, late Patriarch Ilia II, half a century of effort to revive the church as Georgia’s united foundation. We witnessed the fruit of his miraculous merit about two weeks ago, when the Council of the Georgian Church elected the new Catholicos-Patriarch,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili in his speech delivered at the Independence Day festive parade.

According to the Speaker, some still want us to do everything “tied to a golden chain but not be an independent state; to rely on others and not on ourselves.”

“We witness what true autocephaly and independence mean when we decide our fate freely without any foreign interference. Another window of history opened 35 years ago when we regained the second foundation, our statehood, lost many times but never forgotten. For 35 years, the nation and the clergy have been walking along the thorny path of becoming a state, acting independently, and gaining sovereignty. We are walking relentlessly and firmly.

Some still want to ruin these two foundations, not to stand firmly, follow their rules and reject ours, for us to do everything tied to a golden chain but not be an independent state; to rely on others and not on ourselves. However, this will not be so. The will of the Georgian people is unwavering. Our centuries-long fight belongs to the autocephalic church and independent state. This is the formula of Georgia’s freedom.

Soldiers, this is why today, with your oath and our unity, we honor all who fought for Georgia’s freedom – our saint patriarchs and kings, countrymen and clergy, famed and nameless, all those who dedicated and sacrificed their lives, effort and faith to the motherland. Long live united, independent, and free Georgia. May God protect us!” he said.