Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, hosted a meeting with the U.S. Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Alan Purcell. The visit was introductory in nature, Georgian Patriarchate reported.

The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Theodor (Chuadze) of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti, Metropolitan Saba (Gigiberia) of Khoni and Samtredia, the Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Archpriest Mikael Botkoveli, Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze, Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, and Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Service Archpriest Archil Khachidze.

Metropolitan Shio emphasized the historic importance of Christianity for Georgia, noting that next year marks the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion. He expressed hope that the US Embassy would take part in the upcoming jubilee events.

During the conversation with Alan Purcell, the hierarchs also highlighted the country’s primary challenge—its violated territorial integrity—and thanked the United States for its consistent support of Georgia’s non-recognition policy.

U.S. Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires expressed gratitude for the warm reception and voiced hope for further strengthening bilateral relations.