Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Georgia, Gareth Ward, at the Patriarchal Residence on June 11, 2026.
The discussion took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Patriarch Shio welcomed the ambassador and expressed appreciation for his visit, particularly highlighting Ambassador Ward’s fluent command of the Georgian language, describing it as a sign of deep respect and affection for Georgia and its culture.
During the meeting, the Patriarch emphasized the importance of family, moral, and spiritual values, as well as issues related to the education and upbringing of young people. He also praised the ambassador’s commitment to youth and educational initiatives and welcomed the support provided by the United Kingdom in these areas for Georgian society.
Ambassador Ward thanked the Patriarch for the warm reception and hospitality, noting the significant role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the country’s public life. He also reiterated his condolences on the passing of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, recalling the immense respect and authority he enjoyed both in Georgia and abroad.
The ambassador conveyed congratulations from King Charles III and from the head of the Anglican Church on the occasion of Patriarch Shio’s enthronement.
The two sides also discussed current international developments and the challenges facing the modern world. Particular attention was given to the role of Christian values in shaping European civilization and the need to preserve and promote those values today.
The conversation further touched upon educational reforms in Georgia, including the recently introduced “Values-Based Education” program in public schools, implemented through cooperation between the state and the Church. Patriarch Shio noted that the initiative draws in part on British educational experience and seeks to strengthen the moral and civic formation of young people.
The rehabilitation works at the Gelati Monastery complex were also discussed. The Patriarch expressed gratitude for the contribution of British scholars and specialists participating in the restoration efforts, while Ambassador Ward reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s readiness to continue cooperation in the field of cultural heritage preservation.
Patriarch Shio also noted that Georgia is marking the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion this year and spoke about the commemorative events planned for the occasion.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts.
