On May 27, Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, received representatives of the United States Department of State at the Patriarchal Residence.

According to the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch met with U.S. State Department representatives Charles Yockey and Peter Andreoli, members of their delegation, and Acting U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Alan Purcell.

“The meeting was also attended by Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi, Metropolitan Gerasime of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Metropolitan Andrea of Gori and Ateni, Protodeacon Giorgi Zviadadze of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch’s secretary Archpriest Mikheil Botkoveli, Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service Archpriest Andrea Jagmaidze, his deputy Archpriest Guram Charelashvili, and other clergy representatives.

Members of the U.S. delegation congratulated the head of the Georgian Church on his enthronement as Catholicos-Patriarch and repeatedly emphasized the role of the Orthodox Church in Georgia’s history. The discussion also focused on relations between the two countries and their shared Christian values. Both sides once again expressed readiness to deepen cooperation and strengthen these values.

Georgia is marking the 1,700th anniversary this year of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion. In connection with the anniversary events, the Catholicos-Patriarch invited the U.S. State Department delegation to attend the planned celebrations.

The guests thanked the Patriarch for the warm reception,” the statement said.