President’s Message of Peace and Unity
On December 25, the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili addressed the nation and wished Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates the birth of the Savior. She said that Christmas is a time of joy, hope, and love, and that it reminds us of the values that unite us as a nation. She also expressed her gratitude to the Georgian Orthodox Church and its leader, Patriarch Ilia II, for their spiritual guidance and support.
The President emphasized the importance of peace and unity in the face of the challenges that Georgia faces, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian occupation, and the regional instability. She said that Georgia needs to stand together and overcome these difficulties with faith, courage, and wisdom. She also called for dialogue and reconciliation among the political forces, and urged them to respect the democratic institutions and the will of the people.
President’s Visit to the Holy Land
The President also shared her impressions from her recent visit to the Holy Land, where she participated in the inauguration of the renovated Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. She said that it was a historic and symbolic event, as the Church of the Nativity is one of the oldest and most sacred places for Christians around the world. She said that she was honored to represent Georgia at this occasion, and that she felt the connection between the Georgian and the Palestinian people, who share a common history and culture.
The President said that her visit to the Holy Land was also an opportunity to strengthen the ties between Georgia and Israel, and to promote the Georgian culture and heritage in the region. She said that she met with the Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and discussed the bilateral cooperation and the regional issues. She also visited the Georgian Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem, where she met with the Georgian monks and nuns, and thanked them for preserving the Georgian identity and traditions in the Holy Land.
President’s Christmas Plans
The President said that she plans to spend the Christmas Eve and the Christmas Day with her family and friends, and to attend the liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. She said that she hopes that the pandemic situation will improve soon, and that the people will be able to celebrate the holidays in a more normal and festive way. She said that she wishes health, happiness, and prosperity to all the Georgian citizens, and that she prays for the peace and security of Georgia and the world.
