Patriarch of Alexandria visits Patriarchate of Georgia

12 August 2008 - Tbilisi, Georgia (Serbian Orthodox Church News) - On 1st August 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the Divine Liturgy which was conducted by the Great Ecclesiarch of the Throne, Archim. Isidore Salakos.

Accompanied by His Beatitude Ilia II, Patriarch of the Georgia Church, His Beatitude then visited His Excellency Prime Minister Vladimir Goyrgnidze at the Prime Ministerial Mansion in Tbilisi .

His Excellency welcomed the two Patriarchs with respect and emotion and led them into the Meeting Hall of the Prime Ministerial Council, where he addressed the Alexandrian Primate, saying: “Your Beatitude, we joyfully welcome you to Georgia . I wish to emphasize that your visit is very significant for us, as we are going through difficult times. I know that you visited Georgia 22 years ago. You will have noted the different Georgia from that time.

He country has progressed, it is constantly developing, and is making efforts to take its place in the European Community, as a country of great history which is trying to stand with dignity against its history. We are trying to make use of all the possibilities our country has to offer and we understand the responsibility which we have as leader, because we are in a strategic geopolitical position and there are many problems. We believe that with the assistance of the European nations, we will be able to solve them. We are optimistic. As you will note, an enormous programme is developing around the restoration of our cultural heritage and the Church is our greatest collaborator and we always respect this. We ask for your blessing on all that is being undertaken in Georgia today”.

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