Under the protection of the Lord and the spiritual leadership of the Patriarch, we will firmly defend Christianity, Orthodoxy, and all the values that constitute the essence and content of the Georgian nation, the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi during the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents.

The Prime Minister said this year’s 17 May is particularly significant, as it marks the first festive liturgy led by Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III, who, according to him, was selected through the will of God, the testament of Ilia II, and the support of the Holy Synod.

“By God’s protection and under the spiritual guidance of the Patriarch, we will firmly defend Christianity, Orthodoxy, and all the values that form the essence of the Georgian nation,” Kobakhidze said.

He added that 17 May is a special day for Georgia because it was established by the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who, he said, embodied Christian and Orthodox values in the national consciousness for nearly half a century.

“The passing of our spiritual father, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, made each of us understand the importance of Christianity, love, and unity with particular intensity. Thank you to His Holiness and Beatitude for your great contribution, which will continue to illuminate the path of our country on the path of preserving Christian values and traditions for a long time to come,” the Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze further emphasized the historical significance of Christianity in Georgia, noting 1,700 years since Christianity became the state religion, calling it one of the main pillars of the country’s identity and culture.

He concluded by congratulating the public on the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents and reaffirmed the importance of protecting Georgia’s religious and cultural traditions.