“The Lord’s Robe became the symbol of our country and from that moment has invisibly shielded our nation,” declared the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, during the solemn liturgy at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Papuashvili congratulated those assembled on the Svetitskhovloba.

“I congratulate you on this magnificent feast day. Two thousand years ago, the Lord’s Robe was buried in this place, and from that moment it became the symbol of our country, invisibly shielding our nation, the invisible raiment of our people. This reminds us of the mission entrusted to our nation. We are the land of Svetitskhoveli; we are the nation charged with guarding the Lord’s Robe. This is the mission bestowed upon our nation by God. This is the mission that our forefathers fulfilled with honour and brought to us. It is our duty to fulfil this mission and pass it to future generations.

Today is also the feast day of the Holy King and Queen, Mirian and Nana, during whose reign Kartli was converted to Christianity. As has been said, next year we shall celebrate a momentous occasion when our entire nation, together with the Christian world, will mark 1,700 years since Christianity was declared the state religion. This will be a year that once again demonstrates what the unity of nation and Church means, what it means to fulfil our primary calling. We shall celebrate a faith inseparable from our homeland and language. Once again, I congratulate you on this holiday. May the Lord unite and strengthen our country,” Papuashvili declared.