Speaker: Family strength directly shapes society and national consciousness

“Georgian history teaches us one fundamental truth — where the family is strong, society is strong, national consciousness is strong, and the state itself is strong,” the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalba Papuashvili said in his speech after the festive liturgy dedicated to the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents.

Papuashvili stated that Christian values shaped the Georgian family model, based on mutual respect, love, solidarity, and responsibility.

“During our centuries-old history, we have gone through many trials – wars, invasions, pressure from empires, attempts to destroy our faith, language, and identity, but the Georgian people have preserved themselves. And this is primarily due to the Georgian family – the family, faith, loyalty to the homeland, and respect for ancestors,” he said.

Papuashvili also highlighted the significance of the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion in Georgia, calling it a cornerstone of national identity, culture, and statehood.

According to him, Christianity provided the spiritual foundation that united and strengthened the nation throughout history, while the Georgian family served as an institution of national survival that preserved language, song, traditions, and memory.

“It is precisely Christian values that have formed the model of the Georgian family, which is based on mutual respect, love, support, and responsibility. A family where a generation grows up; where a child first learns what a homeland is, what kindness, dignity, labor, and the special significance of Georgia are. Today, when the world is facing many challenges, it is especially important to protect these values. The state is strong when it takes care of society; the family is the main support of society; and when tradition and modernity do not conflict with each other but complement each other. The Georgian family has always been not only a social unit, but an institution of national survival. It was the family that preserved the Georgian language, song, traditions, Christian faith, and national memory,”  the Speaker declared.

He paid tribute to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, crediting him with establishing May 17 as a day dedicated to family purity, unity, and respect for parents.

Papuashvili concluded by congratulating the public on the occasion and wishing blessings upon Georgian families and the country.