"God, Country, Man": International Symposium in Tbilisi on 1700 years of Christianity in Georgiatranslated

"Our thoughts and prayers today are especially with the people living in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. These ancient historical regions of Georgia must continue to exist peacefully with their homeland through faith in Christ and love. With the help of the Lord, this will happen and brotherly unity and love will be restored among us again." This was emphasized by the Catholic Patriarch of All Georgia Sio III during his speech at the opening of the International Scientific Symposium entitled "God, Fatherland, Man", which is dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia. The International Symposium began yesterday, Sunday, October 11, 2026, in Tbilisi with the solemn opening ceremony taking place in the presence of the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhitze, high government officials, representatives of Orthodox Churches as well as academics from Georgia and abroad.

The Patriarch noted that Georgians living abroad, whom he described as precious children of the nation and the Church, also share the...