Georgia 1,700th anniversary of Christianity celebrations

Georgia is observing the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared its state religion through various commemorative events.

An international symposium titled ‘God, Motherland, Man’ opened in Tbilisi to explore the nation’s Christian heritage and its role in global civilization. During the opening ceremony, President Mikhail Kavelashvili stated that the spiritual choice made 1,700 years ago shaped the nation’s cultural identity and statehood, noting that the Mother Church has historically preserved the nation’s language and consciousness.

In conjunction with these celebrations, representatives from several Orthodox Churches—including the Patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch, the Church of Cyprus, the Church of Greece, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine—visited Patriarch Giorgi III in Tbilisi to convey greetings to the Georgian people.

From October 12–16, 2026, delegations from various autocephalous Orthodox Churches gathered in Georgia for the commemorations. A delegation from the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, including Bishop Andrzej of Suprasl, met with Catholicos and Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia III, at the Patriarchal Palace in Tbilisi. During the audience, the Patriarch discussed challenges facing the Georgian Church following the death of Patriarch Ilia II and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine. The visit included meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and religious ceremonies at Sioni Cathedral and in Mtskheta, serving to strengthen religious and diplomatic ties between Poland, Georgia, and Ukraine.