2021-07-10
Once again, I would like to express gratitude to the Prime Minister of India for this unprecedented decision. Today is a historic day for our country and our people, for each believer. After almost 400 years of separation, the holy relics of our Great Queen and Martyr Ketevan return to our homeland, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at the Holy Trinity Cathedral where a special service was held to celebrate the transfer of the holy relics of the Great Martyr Ketevan to the Orthodox Christian Church of Georgia.
On behalf of the Georgian Government and nation, the Head of Government once again thanked the Indian Government and people.
"Back in its time, the martyrdom of Queen Ketevan brought about the awakening of our nation and an unprecedented rise in national consciousness. Her heroic life, self-sacrifice on the alter of the Faith and homeland, remains exemplary to this day and will endure forever. On the decision of the Head of the Government of the Republic of India, Georgia has been granted possession of the fragments of her holy relics discovered during excavations at the ruined Monastery Complex of Saint Augustin in Goa. Once again, I wholeheartedly welcome this decision and thank the Indian Government and the people of India. This is the best precondition for deepening the relations between our countries. Once again, I extend the Georgian people's gratitude to the Government and people of India. I join our society in celebrating this glorious event. May God be our protector!" the Prime Minister said.
The holy relics of the Great Martyr Ketevan have been handed over to the Orthodox Christian Church of Georgia. The ceremony of the translation of the holy relics to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and their handover to the Holy Apostolic Catholic Autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church of Georgia, was attended by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Foreign Minister of the Republic of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, members of Gerogia's executive and legislative, and clerics.
The thanksgiving service was officiated by Patriarchal locum tenens, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku.
By order of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and with the blessing of Catholicos-Patriarch of All-Georgia Ilia II, and with the Georgian Foreign Ministry's engagement, the Georgian Embassy in India held intensive negotiations with the Office of the Indian Prime Minister, the Indian Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Culture, and other governmental agencies, for granting Georgia possession of the holy relics.
Press Service of the Government Administration