Prime Minister of Georgia together with Zurab Pataradze, Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Charity and Educational Center - Bethlehem.

The Charity and Educational Center - Bethlehem, which will be built on Giorgi Antsukhelidze Street in Batumi with the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude late and great Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and His Holiness Shio III, will comprise a residential care facility for elderly people and persons with disabilities, a day care center for senior citizens and a preschool education center with an inclusive learning group.

Irakli Kobakhidze thanked Metropolitan Dimitri of Batumi and Lazeti for initiating the project and for his many years of dedicated service to the country.

“This project has been created with exceptional care. It is particularly noteworthy that it is being launched with the blessing of two Patriarchs-late and great Ilia II and Shio III-which in itself is a guarantee that this initiative will be highly successful. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to developing and bringing this idea to life. My gratitude also goes to Gumbati LLC, the company that will construct this center. This is an excellent example of how meaningful ideas can be realized through cooperation between the Government, the Church and the business community. I would especially like to thank Metropolitan Dimitri, who is the driving force behind this project and express my appreciation for his decades of outstanding service to our homeland, as well as to Batumi and Adjara”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.

Metropolitan Dimitri of Batumi and Lazeti blessed the foundation stone of the charity and educational center and led a prayer service.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Government and Parliament of Georgia, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and members of the Government of Adjara.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister of Georgia also visited the construction site of the St. Cyricus and Julitta Church and Monastic Complex in the village of Kvirike.

The church and monastic complex under construction in Kvirike will include 3 domed churches, a bell tower, a refectory and a gymnasium. The gymnasium building will house an educational center for young people, where, alongside traditional religious disciplines, students will study computer science and other academic subjects.