In connection with the holiday of Svetitskhovloba and the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, Patriarch [Locum Tenens] Shio II conducted a liturgy at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

The service was attended by members of delegations from various Orthodox churches and guests who arrived from abroad. After the liturgy, the Patriarch addressed the parish with a sermon. The President and the Speaker of the Parliament also spoke about the significance of this day.

Believers gathered at the cathedral were presented with a letter from the Ecumenical Patriarch in connection with the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia.

The speech of Bartholomew I was introduced to the public by Bessarion, the Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal and a representative of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate:

“I would like to present to you the speech of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in connection with the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia. Spiritually, we unite with everyone gathering for the holiday of Svetitskhovloba to pay tribute to the Chiton of the Lord and offer thanks to God for this most important event in the history of the Georgian people.

For centuries, the Church of Georgia reinforced its apostolic heritage through the unwavering devotion of its believers and the testimony of martyrs. Even during the hardest trials, the confession of the Orthodox faith remained the pillar of the spiritual life of the people. We also welcome the international symposium organized in Tbilisi, which is dedicated to the study of spiritual and cultural heritage. May these celebrations deepen the bonds existing between us and strengthen our readiness to serve together the reconciliation and hope granted by the Savior before the world”.