Shio III, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, said on Friday that various temptations are seeking to replace faith and moral values, stressing that love of God and justice remain enduring moral principles.

Speaking at a conference on the foundations of European civilization and 1 700 years of Christianity in Georgia, Shio III said the event marks not only an important historical milestone but also provides an opportunity to reflect on Georgia’s centuries-old Christian path and the significance of the spiritual and state heritage that shaped the Georgian nation and became one of the main foundations of its identity

“Congratulations on the 1 700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia. I welcome the clergy who have come from various countries, the heads and representatives of parliamentary delegations, European Christian churches and international church organizations, who are sharing with us the joy of this jubilee year”, he said

“1 700 years ago, the firm decision made by our ancestors clearly established Georgia’s place among the world’s civilizations. The foundation for this centuries-old path, nourished by the love of Christ, was laid as early as the first century through the possession of the Lord’s Robe and Georgia’s designation as the land allotted to the Blessed Virgin Mary”, Shio III noted

He said the Georgian people were introduced to the light of Christ through the preaching of the holy apostles Andrew the First-Called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthias and later, in the fourth century, through the efforts of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Nino, the nation embraced faith in the Savior.

“Christianity became not only a defining element of people’s spiritual lives but also of the cultural and social thinking of the entire country. It shaped the worldview and religious identity of the Georgian people, who have an ancient and unique culture. All subsequent Georgian literature, art, culture, education and social thought grew and developed on Christian foundations”, Shio III said.

The Patriarch noted that Christianity had produced numerous prominent figures, saints and devoted individuals.

“Many turbulent centuries have passed since then. Many large and small countries have disappeared from the face of the earth and been lost in the flow of time, but the Georgian people, nourished by faith in Christ and strengthened by Christian values, have nevertheless managed to preserve their faith, language and homeland”, he noted.

“Christian thought and faith gave European civilization a profoundly different spiritual and moral substance. Due to its geographical location and history, Georgia has long stood at the crossroads of different cultures and civilizations. For centuries, Georgia developed within a shared space of the rich theological, intellectual and cultural thought of Byzantium, the Christian East and Europe. Through these connections, the Georgian nation preserved its identity while also making a distinctive contribution to the spiritual treasury of global Christianity”, he added.

Shio III noted that modern times present the Georgian people with new challenges, as wars, confrontation, discord and various temptations seek to replace faith and moral values.

“At such a time, we must remember that love of God and our fellow human beings, mercy, responsibility, justice, tolerance and the pursuit of peace among people are moral values rooted in Christian teaching, whose essence does not change despite the passage of time”, he said.

“It is highly welcome that this conference pays particular attention to such important values as the institution of the family and traditional values.

The family is the environment where a person learns love, loyalty, responsibility, respect and care for others. The family is not merely a private space but also the foundation of morality and national identity. The strength of the family is precisely what determines a strong and united state”, Shio III noted.

He said that society particularly needs the Church, public institutions and state institutions to be able to discuss such issues with mutual respect

“This will greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of Christian teaching on the most important issues facing the modern world, support for the institution of the family and a stronger sense of responsibility toward future generations. I wish that the work of this conference proceeds precisely with this vision and that the place and significance of Georgia, a country with a 2,000-year Christian history, in European civilization will once again be demonstrated”, Shio III said.

“May God bless you and bring you joy. May the God of peace be with you”, Shio III concluded.