The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I expressed happiness over the fact that the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia the Second has created an icon of unity in the country.

Before his departure from Georgia, Bartholomew I in his interview with reporters said that in Georgia around the Orthodox Church is united the whole society, as it is evidenced by yesterday's meeting at the Patriarchate of Georgia.

In particular, the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, the Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili spent the New Year according to the Orthodox calendar in the Patriarchate of Georgia. The reception was also attended by Georgian clergy and visiting guests of a high spiritual rank. The Ecumenical Patriarch believes that His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia the Second is the spiritual father of the nation. The Ecumenical Patriarch also expressed his joy at the Georgian youth.

"I’m  leaving your country satisfied and happy. I wish you the unity. Congratulations to all Georgia with the New Year. Let this year be a year of peace, love and unity. Continue to work for the benefit of your beautiful homeland with ancient history. We are very pleased with Georgian youth and their relationship to faith. We watched them and realized that the Georgian youth are very different from their European counterparts. I want to say that the DNA of the Orthodox faith lies at the heart of every Georgian. I bless you with all my heart. I am sure that such people have a great future. I want to thank His Beatitude for such a warm welcome and wish him many years "- said the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.