Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili has visited Patriarch Ilia II to personally congratulate him on his 89th birthday. 

Garibashvili said that Georgia has had a wise and  prescient spiritual leader for 44 years, and that Ilia II’s role is ‘huge’ that Georgians overcame all hardships with more faith in God. 

“Our Patriarch is highly respected not only by Georgians, but also by the international community,” Garibashvili said. 

He wished good health and long life to Ilia II.