On November 16, 2016, in connection with the International Day for Tolerance, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II hosted representatives of religious minorities. The Georgian Orthodox Church and Georgia’s State Agency for Religious Issues jointly organized the event. His Holiness called the reception “a big and important day”, as it brought together people from different nationalities and religions, highlighted centuries-old unity of Georgia and the traditions of the country.

The leaders of religious minorities invited to the meeting confirmed that the reception initiated by Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia is the vivid evidence that relations between different religions and nations should be based on love and tolerance.

The Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Zaza Vashakmadze, noted that today the government defends and continues traditions, which our ancestors have created together with the representatives of different religions and nations for centuries. The country’s government policy on religion, be it financial support of different Churches and religious communities, or regulation on restitution of property, is based on peaceful coexistence and freedom of religion and belief for each of us.

With the blessing of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Very Rev. Fr. Khoren Hovhannisyan attended the meeting. Father Khoren conveyed to the Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II brotherly love and greetings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; as well as wishes of good health and long life from Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.

In his remarks, Very Rev. Fr. Khoren said: “…Sometimes, people or communities do not accept each other because they don’t know each other. Sometimes, due to lack of communication and poor dialogue we don’t know each other. In order to tolerate and accept someone, we need to get to know him better. Talking to each other is always better than not talking. The Dalai Lama once said: “Talking to each other is much better than talking about each other.” Therefore, no stereotypes or fixations should hinder our dialogue, communication.”

Mr. Zaza Vashakmadze offered the attendees to traditionally mark the 16th of November with a meeting at one of religious organizations every year, with the participation of all religious communities, which will be a testimony to mutual love and respect.