Georgia's Patriarch calls to maintain friendship between Armenians and Georgians

Georgia's spiritual leader has urged Armenia and Georgia to remain committed to the centuries-long friendship and brotherhood between the two countries, according to the press office of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

At a meeting with the representatives of Georgia's Armenian community held at the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate on January 10, Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, also expressed hope that through joint efforts the two nations and the two churches will be able to tackle the existing problems.

He also expressed his "respect and love" for all Armenians.

The Armenian delegation included Primate of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Vazgen
Mirzakhanyan and was headed by Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanyan.

On behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II congratulated the Armenian people, the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as Armenia's president on the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Hrach Silvanyan, Van Bayburtian, the chief-editor of a local newspaper called Georgia, Samvel Aghekyan, a representative of the Union of the Armenian Entrepreneurs in Georgia, in turn, made congratulatory speeches at the meeting.

The Georgian-Armenian delegation handed a present to Ilia II - a panting by famous Georgian-Armenian painter Lev Boiakhchev.

Ilia II, in turn, presented wines from Patriarchate's cellar to the Armenian delegation, adding that His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will pay a visit to Georgia this year.

He also said that he is ready to give Garegin II a warm welcome and reaffirmed the long-lasting friendship between the Armenian and Georgian churches.