Catholicos Karekin II and Georgian President Discuss Enduring Friendship and Regional Stability

armenianchurch.org

OCP News Service and armenianchurch.org – 03/05/2025

Yerevan-Armenia: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on April 29, 2025, during the President’s official visit to Armenia. The meeting underscored the centuries-old friendship and shared Christian heritage uniting the Armenian and Georgian peoples.

His Holiness reflected on the historical bonds between the two nations, noting their shared Christian faith and values that have enabled them to overcome numerous challenges while preserving their national identity and spiritual heritage. He expressed his gratitude to the Georgian authorities for their diplomatic efforts in securing the return of fifteen Armenian prisoners of war and for their ongoing care and support for the Armenian community residing in Georgia. The Catholicos also conveyed his fraternal greetings and best wishes to His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

President Kavelashvili expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes of his official visit to Armenia and emphasized the crucial role of the Christian faith in safeguarding the spiritual, cultural, and national identity of both Armenians and Georgians, particularly in the face of historical adversities. He assured Catholicos Karekin II of Georgia’s continued commitment to fostering peace and stability within the region and its active advocacy for the release of prisoners of war.

Following their discussion, President Kavelashvili, accompanied by clergy, toured the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, where he was acquainted with the history of the recently restored sacred site.

The meeting was attended by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See; Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Director of the Administrative Department of the Mother See; Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia; as well as the ambassadors of Armenia and Georgia, highlighting the diplomatic significance of the encounter alongside the spiritual exchange.

Source:
OCP News Services and armenianchurch.org