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زيارة رئيسة جورجيا للبطريركية الأورشليمية

إستقبل غبطة البطريرك كيريوس كيريوس ثيوفيلوس الثالث مع عدد من آباء أخوية القبر المقدس من أساقفة وكهنة صباح يوم الأربعاء الموافق 22 كانون ثاني 2020 في دار البطريركية فخامة رئيسة دولة جورجيا السيدة Salome Zourabishvili  مع الوفد المرافق لها المكون من سفير دولة جورجيا في إسرائيل السيد لاشا وعدد من دبلوماسيي السفارة الجورجية.

غبطة البطريرك رحّب برئيسة جورجيا بكلمة القاها أثناء اللقاء:

“Your Excellency, Mrs. President, Salome Zourabichvili,

 It is an honour to receive you today at Our Patriarchate, the Mother of all Churches, here in the Holy City of Jerusalem. It was from here where the Good News spread to every nation, including the great country of Georgia.

Our Patriarchate represents the entire Christian Community in the Holy Land, “gathered like chicks under her wing” (Luke 13:34), comprising both local Christians as well as millions of pilgrims from around the world who come to Jerusalem for spiritual refreshment.

Since the very inception of the Church, the presence of Our Patriarchate has remained unbreakable. In fact, it is the only institution in the Holy Land to have survived throughout the ages without interruption. This is not by accident. It is precisely due to the commitment of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre to Our spiritual mission that not only our Christian presence and sacred heritage has thrived, but also Jerusalem has been able to maintain her unique multi-cultural and multi-religious character. For a significant period, Jerusalem even served as a cultural and spiritual centre for Georgia. The Patriarchate is heartened by the fact that it facilitates so many various groups of people who come to seek proximity with the Divine.

Although the role of the Patriarchate is spiritual, fortunately We have not been limited by this in Our contribution to discourse across diplomatic and governmental spheres. In the wake of recent political challenges, the integrity of Our Patriarchate has served as a powerful testament to the benefits of nurturing mutual-understanding, acknowledging common life, and advocating for peace and reconciliation among all people. To this effect, We continue to be protected and even embraced by the local governments, i.e. Israel, the Palestinian State, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and of course supported by the major religious communities – Christian, Muslim, and Jewish as well.

Such support is critical to the vitality of the Patriarchate’s continued mission and work as the protector of physical and spiritual Christian heritage. After all, We do not represent ourselves here, but all of you – our Orthodox brothers and sisters – many of whom reside under the auspices of your leadership.

 Mrs. President, again We extend Our warm welcome to you and your delegation, and We pray that your visit to Jerusalem be blessed and fruitful, and that the Divine Grace of the holy places sanctified by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, remain with you and your countrymen.”

غبطة البطريرك قام بتكريم رئيسة جورجيا بصليب القبر المقدس تقديراً لعطائها لشعبها ولكنيسة جورجيا وللعلاقات الجيدة التي تربط دولة جورجيا بالبطريركية الأورشليمية. 

بدورها شكرت فخامة الرئيسة غبطة البطريرك على هذا التكريم وأكدت أنها على أساس هذه العلاقات ستبدأ صفحة جديدة بين بلدها والبطريركية كما تُملي عليها ماضي هذه العلاقة.

بعد نهاية الزيارة في البطريركية  قامت رئيسة جورجيا بزيارة كنيسة القيامة برفقة صاحب الغبطة وعدد من آباء أخوية القبر المقدس وطلبت بركة ونعمة القبر المقدس للنجاح في مهمتها من أجل ازدهار أمتها وبلادها.

مكتب السكرتارية العامة