PM Irakli Kobakhidze: Patriarch Ilia II’s contribution is epochal; he protected spiritual unity and built the bridge to modern statehood

“The contribution of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the first Patriarch of modern independent Georgia, is truly epochal,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared on Friday.

Addressing the international conference Foundations of European Civilisation and 1,700 Years of Christianity in Georgia, the Prime Minister praised the Patriarch for safeguarding the nation’s spiritual cohesion and establishing an enduring link between ancient heritage and statehood.

“The legacy of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, as the first spiritual leader of modern, restored independent Georgia, is genuinely epochal. It was his leadership, imbued with wisdom and love, that ensured Christian values were deeply woven into the foundations of our newly re-established independent state,” Kobakhidze stated.

“The Patriarch has protected and reinforced the nation’s spiritual unity, building a resilient bridge that connects our multi-centennial heritage with modern Georgian statehood,” the Prime Minister added.