In political terms, Georgia, like many other states, has adopted a new orientation since the fall of the Berlin Wall. This new orientation is distinctly European, outward-looking, and centrifugal, in contrast to its previous inward-looking, centripetal focus. Thus, a new perspective opened up for the country, and a new course toward the future was charted.
This transition led to the emergence of two principal social tendencies within the country itself: pro-Western Europeanists and pro-Eastern, Moscow-oriented groups. Each group developed a dynamic presence that unsettled the balance of social cohesion and, at times, even threatened the unity of the people.
Alongside these ideological dynamics and geopolitical shifts, separatist and autonomist movements in Ossetia and Abkhazia intensified concerns and further reinforced political and social uncertainty.
Despite its own internal challenges, the Church played a notably cohesive and unifying role within this unstable geopolitical and social environment, engaging with “the affairs of this world” as a living organism.
By promoting moral standards and a sense of “purity of national identity,” the Church fostered social cohesion. At the same time, the Church succeeded in rallying the people around itself and in projecting the figure of the Patriarch as not only a spiritual father, but also a “forefather,” one who embodies the nation’s identity.
The Church held society together, unifying it culturally. It expressed the enduring content of its faith in Christ in both liturgical life and social practice, influencing the present and future of Georgian civil society.
Through this embodiment, Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia earned the respect of all rulers and citizens, clergy and laity alike. This explains the widespread public presence during the procession of his body to the church, led by the president and prime minister of Georgia, as well as extensive media coverage of his life and activities.
For 63 years, 50 of them as Patriarch, Ilia II served his people, inspiring them and instilling in them a love for their homeland and a respect and reverence for the church as the mother of the Georgian nation.
Therefore, the new Patriarch will inherit a significant ecclesiastical, social, and political legacy. He must earn the trust of the people and his flock, building upon the strong religiosity and popular piety that characterize the tradition. At the same time, geopolitical developments in the region impose an additional national role upon him: preserving social cohesion and unity.
It is essential for the Church that he emerge as the spiritual leader of his people and a continuator of Patriarch Ilia II’s work.
He must safeguard the Church’s autocephaly, autonomy, and rights without succumbing to disorienting ambitions or external pressures. He must maintain clarity of speech and decisiveness of role, always oriented toward what ought to be for the benefit of the nation, church, and people of Georgia.
Kalamata, March 20, 2026
Chrysostomos of Messinia
