“Above all, we witnessed a profound expression of love from the Georgian nation. These days have demonstrated that a Georgian is a Christian, and that the Georgian nation is more than just a collection of societies; it is a community bound by faith. This was evident to everyone both within and outside the country,” said MP Irakli Kadagishvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Self-Government, speaking to GPB First Channel.
According to Kadagishvili, when discussing Georgia, its assessment, and its relations with the world, it is essential to acknowledge that this is a nation with deep-rooted traditions based on Christianity, both its present identity and its future trajectory.
“True progress is found in Christianity. While political struggles, differing opinions, and competition will persist, these days have shown us the fundamental framework within which Georgia’s present and future should be considered. This is what the Georgian people desire. Some may think that Georgia seeks to join Europe at any cost, but Georgia aspires to do so while honouring the values upon which Europe was founded. Georgia seeks civilisation rooted in the civilising message brought to humanity by Jesus Christ. Everyone must recognise this and see it clearly.
First and foremost, the Georgian people have expressed that they are Georgians, and with this identity, they wish to build both their present and their future. The most difficult period was in the early 1990s, when they were drafting a constitution for a united Europe, a process marred by disagreements, but they also developed a declaration of a united Europe, in which they wanted to include the phrase: ‘Europe is the fruit of Christian civilisation.’ However, this phrase was ultimately rejected.
Europe is not different. Anyone who believes that humanism originated outside of Christianity is mistaken. These values are embedded in Georgian culture, just as they are among European peoples. Ultimately, these values will speak for themselves. When such an exceptional and brilliant individual departs, an inevitable emptiness and uncertainty about the future naturally follow. Christianity, as the Patriarch always said, is not idolatry. He affirmed that everything he did was by the power of the Lord.
Therefore, despair is unwise. We must honour his legacy and continue to live responsibly as a nation. There is a profound duty towards the Church and every individual who has experienced and cherished these values. The Church belongs to the Lord, and so does the world. We must look to tomorrow with hope,” Irakli Kadagishvili concluded.