President Kavelashvili: Christianity has shaped Georgia’s historical path

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has highlighted the role of Christianity in shaping the country’s statehood, national identity, culture and historical memory, saying the adoption of Christianity as the state religion 1,700 years ago determined Georgia’s historical path.

Kavelashvili made the remarks while addressing the international conference Foundations of European Civilization - 1,700 Years of Christianity in Georgia, organised by the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi.

“Seventeen centuries ago, our spiritual choice significantly determined the face, culture and historical path of the Georgian nation,” Kavelashvili said, adding that the Georgian Orthodox Church had united and protected the nation during periods of hardship.

He said Christianity had served not only as a faith but also as a “spiritual force and intellectual foundation” that helped Georgia preserve its national identity through historical upheavals.

Kavelashvili also pointed to Georgia’s historical role as a meeting point between East and West, saying the country had developed a tradition of peaceful coexistence among different cultures, religions and traditions while preserving its own national and spiritual identity.