Ivanishvili family congratulates newly elected Georgian Patriarch, emphasises unity and peace

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and his spouse Ekaterina Ivanishvili on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III, emphasising the historic importance and responsibility of his new role.

In their message, the couple described the election as a moment of “great historical responsibility”, noting that the Church and the country are currently in a period when society particularly needs “spiritual strength, unity, and peace”.

“Your Holiness,

We cordially congratulate you on your election as the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Georgia.
From this day forward, you are entrusted with the honorable and, at the same time, responsible mission of leading our Mother Church and being the spiritual father of every Orthodox Georgian - both the laity and the clergy.

Your Holiness, it is an immense historical responsibility to serve the Church and the country at a time when society especially requires spiritual fortitude, unity, and peace. This responsibility is even greater considering that you are continuing the path of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, who, for half a century, during a difficult and turbulent period, led our people and country with great dignity.

We believe that your ministry will become a foundation for tranquility, mutual support, and national unity, further strengthening the centuries-old traditions and values of the Georgian Church upon which our national identity stands.

I wish you health, strength, and spiritual fortitude. May God bless Your Holiness and all of Georgia”, the letter said.