Patriarch Shio III of Georgia highlighted the decisive role of Christianity in shaping Georgia’s national, cultural and spiritual identity during an international conference marking 1,700 years since Christianity was declared the country’s state religion.
Addressing the conference Foundations of European Civilization and 1,700 Years of Christianity in Georgia in Tbilisi on October 2, Patriarch Shio described the anniversary as an opportunity not only to commemorate a major historical event but also to reflect on Georgia’s centuries-long Christian journey and its place within European civilization.
The Patriarch of Georgia welcomed President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, members of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, hierarchs and representatives of Christian Churches and international ecclesiastical organizations.
According to Patriarch Shio, the decision taken by Georgia’s ancestors 17 centuries ago firmly established the country’s place among the world’s civilizations.
He recalled the ancient Christian tradition of Georgia, referring to the tradition of the Lord’s Robe, the country’s special association with the Theotokos, the preaching of the Apostles Andrew the First-Called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthias, and the missionary work of St. Nino in the fourth century.
“Christianity became a determining factor not only in the spiritual life of individuals, but also in the cultural and social thought of the entire country,” Patriarch Shio said.
He stressed that Georgia’s Christian heritage shaped its worldview and national and religious identity, while providing the foundations upon which Georgian literature, art, culture and education subsequently developed.
Despite centuries of upheaval, he noted, the Georgian people, strengthened by their Christian faith and values, succeeded in preserving their “faith, language and homeland.”
Georgia and European Christian Civilization
Patriarch Shio also highlighted Georgia’s historical position at the crossroads of different cultures and civilizations.
For centuries, he said, Georgia developed within the broader theological, intellectual and cultural environment of Byzantium, the Christian East and Europe.
Through these interactions, Georgia was able both to preserve its distinctive identity and to make its own contribution to the spiritual heritage of global Christianity.
The Patriarch emphasized that Christian thought and faith gave European civilization a distinctive spiritual and moral dimension.
Turning to contemporary challenges, he referred to wars, confrontation, division and other pressures that, in his words, threaten to displace faith and moral values.
Against this background, Patriarch Shio stressed the enduring relevance of “love for God and one’s neighbor, mercy, responsibility, justice, tolerance and the pursuit of peace among people.”
“These are moral values based on Christian teaching whose essence does not change despite the passage of time,” he said.
Patriarch Shio Emphasizes Importance of Family
The Georgian Patriarch welcomed the conference’s particular emphasis on the institution of the family and traditional values, also noting President Kavelashvili’s references to these issues in his address.
“The family is the environment in which a person learns love, loyalty, responsibility, respect and care for others,” Patriarch Shio said.
He described the family not merely as a private sphere but as a foundation of morality and national identity, arguing that strong families contribute to a strong and united state.
Patriarch Shio also called for dialogue among the Church, state institutions and society on these issues, based on mutual respect.
Such cooperation, he said, could contribute to a deeper understanding of Christian teaching in relation to the major challenges facing the contemporary world, while supporting the institution of the family and strengthening responsibility toward future generations.
Concluding his address, the Catholicos-Patriarch expressed hope that the conference would further highlight Georgia’s place and significance within European civilization as a country with a two-thousand-year Christian history.
“May the God of peace be with you,” Patriarch Shio concluded, quoting the Epistle to the Philippians.
Photos: Government of Georgia
