Georgian President Says Christian Values Are Key to National Identity Amid Globalization and AI Challenges

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has called for the preservation of the country’s Christian traditions and national values, warning that globalization and artificial intelligence pose new challenges to human identity and cultural heritage.

Kavelashvili made the remarks at the opening of the international symposium “God, Homeland, Human Being,” held to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity’s adoption as the state religion in Georgia.

According to the presidential press service, Kavelashvili highlighted the historic significance of Georgia’s conversion to Christianity, the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the values that have helped preserve Georgian statehood and national identity over the centuries.

The president said the decision to embrace Christianity 1,700 years ago had shaped the country’s cultural identity, political philosophy and historical development.

He also addressed what he described as the challenges facing traditional values in the modern world, outlining the fundamental principles he believes should guide the future development of the Georgian state and society.

“Today, seven eternal values come together in our understanding of statehood: God, homeland, the human being, native land, language, faith and family,” Kavelashvili said.

He described these principles as a unique framework rooted in the 19th-century national philosophy of Saint Ilia the Righteous, widely known as Ilia Chavchavadze, and the spiritual legacy of Patriarch Ilia II.

According to Kavelashvili, these values transcend time and geography, bringing together centuries of Georgian intellectual and cultural traditions, including the literary legacies of Shota Rustaveli and Vazha-Pshavela, two of Georgia’s most celebrated writers.

“These seven symbols form the fundamental foundation of individual identity. Today, when the age of globalization and artificial intelligence threatens to diminish the value of human identity, these eternal values serve as our primary existential shield,” the president said.

He argued that educating younger generations in accordance with these principles would help build a more resilient, progressive, morally grounded and compassionate society.

“Georgian youth raised with these ideals are the guarantee that our society will be far more secure, progressive, morally strong and empathetic,” Kavelashvili added.

The president stressed that Georgia’s long-term strategic development should be built upon these seven principles, particularly amid the complex challenges facing the contemporary world.

The international symposium “God, Homeland, Human Being” is being held from October 11 to 13, bringing together political leaders, religious figures, academics and other participants to discuss the relationship between Christian values, national identity and modern society.

Kavelashvili attended the opening ceremony alongside his wife, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the speaker of the Georgian parliament.