Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili congratulated the population on Christmas and responded to the Patriarch"s Christmas Epistle.

"Merry Christmas to you all! I wish you happiness, health and well-being. I wish unification and more love to Georgia. I want to wish you Happy New Year as well.

The Patriarch spoke about the significance of Christianity and belief in his epistle. He says that as a fruit cut off from a tree dies, the same happens to a person who is cut off from the Church. I wish everyone to unite in this belief for the benefit of our nation.

I also want to congratulate our Patriarch on the 85th birthday, which was marked a few days ago. This year is a very important year, we have great jubilees - we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the autocephaly of our church and the declaration of the first republic. So, many good dates await us!"- says the Prime Minister"s message.