Patriarch Shio III: Our thoughts and prayers are with people of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region
“Our thoughts and prayers today are especially with the people living in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. These ancient historical lands of Georgia must continue to exist in peace with their motherland through faith in Christ and love. With the Lord’s help, this will come to pass, and fraternal unity and love will once again be restored among us,” Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III said.
He made the remarks while addressing the international symposium “God, Homeland, Human,” dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia.
The Patriarch noted that Georgians living abroad, whom he described as precious children of the nation and the Church, were also sharing in the joy of the anniversary celebrations.
“We are glad that, even far from their homeland, they preserve their faith and their ties with the Church and their native land. We always pray for them and await their return,” Shio III said.
He added that Georgia’s 2,000-year Christian history demonstrated that the nation should not falter in the face of various temptations, but instead strengthen its faith.
“We must always remember our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified and suffered for us and, through His resurrection, granted us eternal life. Let us once again arm ourselves with His teachings and virtues and, as a testament to our loyalty and faith and in the hope of saving our nation, reaffirm the words passed down through the centuries by our ancestors — words marked by suffering but still offering comfort today: ‘We shall not betray You, nor abandon You, our pride, O Orthodoxy.’
“These words were the source of our ancestors’ strength. They remain our calling and the principal guarantee of our salvation in the future,” he said.
The Patriarch expressed hope that the symposium’s proceedings would be guided by the same spirit.
“Through the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God, may the Holy Trinity grant us steadfast faith, strength and grace, so that through loyalty to the Lord, service to our homeland and love for our neighbors, we may follow the path that leads us to the springs of living water. May God bless you and strengthen you,” Shio III said.