In his message Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia referred to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (according to the old calendar) which falls on the 30th commemoration of the war in Abkhazia (27th September 1993).
“Today, September 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the discovery of the cross on which the Savior was crucified by Saint Helena, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Saint Constantine, after three centuries,” the Patriarch said in his message.
Then, he added: “This day is very important for the entire Christian world. This is also a day of sorrow, because it is the day of remembering the crime that the human race committed by crucifying God.”
“This feeling is compounded by the sadness of the crimes commited in Sukhumi (Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Sukhumi), which happened 30 years ago on this very day, and, naturally, it is an irreparable wound for Georgia,” the Patriarch stressed in his moving message.
He gave hope by saying: “But Christianity is a religion of hope and joy along with pain, and we also believe that, as the savior’s earthly existence did not end with the crucifixion, but with resurrection and ascension, our country too, Christ rose spiritually, and one day we will definitely restore our territorial integrity.”
Finally, he wished: “May God grant the spiritual resurrection and elevation for each of us!”
Georgian PM: The de-occupation of the Russia-occupied regions and the country’s unification remains our main challenge
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili also referred to the fall of Sokhumi as well as to Russia-occupied regions, according to 1tv.ge.
“Today, Georgia commemorates the 30th anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi, occupied Abkhazia region and I am convinced that the future belongs to the unity, peace, and prosperity of Abkhazians and Georgians,” he said.
“The de-occupation of the Russia-occupied regions and the country’s unification remains the main challenge facing our state and society,” said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in his statement in connection with the day of fall of Sokhumi commemorated on September 27.
“This war has left a devastating mark on our country. Ethnic cleansing has turned hundreds of thousands into refugees in their own homeland and, most lamentably, many of our compatriots have tragically fallen victim to it,” he said.
“The de-occupation of the Russia-occupied regions and the country’s unification remains the main challenge facing our state and society,” he pointed out.
“Today, as we commemorate this sacrifice, we reaffirm our commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. Our Government is resolute in pursuing this path because we firmly believe that peace is the foundation upon which we must build a unified, strong, developed country together with our Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers,” the PM added.
