On May 27, following a meeting with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III, the US Embassy in Georgia released a statement from the State Department delegation.
As noted, the US delegation highlighted the Christian virtues that have characterized Georgian civilization for centuries—such as compassion and mercy—as well as the Church’s historical mission to be a voice of reconciliation among the Georgian people.
The delegation expressed hope that the GOC (Georgian Orthodox Church) would continue this mission to strengthen national unity with a renewed spirit.
“It was an honor for the United States delegation to meet in Tbilisi, at the Patriarchate, with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III.
The delegation emphasized the civilizational ties that form the foundation of Georgian-American relations. The United States views Georgia’s core values—including faith, family, national identity, and a deep respect for God-given rights that ensure human dignity—as the bedrock of this friendship.
The US delegation also highlighted the Christian virtues that have characterized Georgian civilization for centuries—compassion and mercy—as well as the Church’s historical mission to be a voice of reconciliation among the Georgian people. The delegation expressed hope that the Church would continue this mission of strengthening national unity with a renewed spirit.
The United States looks forward to deepening relations with the Georgian Orthodox Church,” the statement noted.
As a reminder, on May 27, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Pitsunda, Sukhumi, and Abkhazia Shio III, received representatives of the US State Department at the Patriarchate.
Charles Yoke and Peter Andreoli, along with their accompanying delegation and the Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Alan Purcell, met with the new primate of the GOC.
