“Today, Christianity, our faith, needs protection and care. Regrettably, there are forces in various countries fighting against Christianity, faith, and Christian moral doctrines. Sadly, these forces are also battling against Christianity in Georgia,” declared Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his address at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where he congratulated citizens on the Svetitskhovloba festival.

Kobakhidze emphasized that when the nation and the clergy stand united, no one can defeat the Georgian people or their faith.

“I congratulate you all on Svetitskhovloba. I extend my congratulations to our country and our Mother Church. With particular reverence, I congratulate His Holiness and Beatitude, our most precious and beloved Catholicos-Patriarch, Ilia II,” the Prime Minister stated.

“Mtskheta is the place where Georgia first embraced Christianity. It is here that King Mirian witnessed a miracle sent by God, acknowledged the true God, and Christianized our country. For 17 centuries since then, it has been Christianity, Orthodoxy, that has shielded our country and helped us preserve our identity and independence,” he continued.

“When we are in Mtskheta, we must remind ourselves with particular intensity that today, Christianity, our faith, needs protection and care. Unfortunately, there are forces in various countries fighting against Christianity, faith, and Christian moral doctrines. Regrettably, these forces are also battling against Christianity in Georgia. However, when the nation and the clergy stand united, no one can defeat us Georgians. No one can defeat faith in our country,” Irakli Kobakhidze stated.