On May 16, 2026, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church consisting of Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashinsk and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Tbilisi to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the enthronement of the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III.
On May 17, members of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation prayed at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, which was celebrated by His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III and His Beatitude Metropolitan Rostislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, co-served by hierarchs and clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church and representatives of other Local Orthodox Churches who arrived for the celebrations.
The church was attended by the leaders of Georgia, President M. Kavelashvili, Prime Minister I. Kobakhidze and Chairman of the Parliament Sh. Papuashvili.
The celebrations coincided with the Family Sanctity Day, celebrated in Georgia at the state level, established on the initiative of His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. Early Divine Liturgies were celebrated in all the churches of Tbilisi on this day, after which thousands of people marched to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, near which a festive prayer service was held.
In his speech at the end of the service, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III called on people to unite to protect the institution of the family in Georgia.
"May the Lord grant us the grace to work and serve the cause of saving the family, protecting family values, so that we have legislation that protects the family and our people from harmful gender theories and ideologies. We should not abandon this legislation, as some are urging us to do, but, on the contrary, we should strengthen and strengthen this area of protection and preservation of the family. This is the key to the preservation and growth of our country, as well as God's mercy," the Patriarch said.
In the speeches of the President, the Prime Minister and the Head of the Parliament of Georgia, thoughts were expressed about the important unifying role of the Church in protecting moral values in Georgian society, including family values. It was emphasized that the celebration of Family Sanctity Day is a sign of the Orthodox identity of the Georgian people, which must be protected and strengthened for the sake of peace and prosperity of Georgia.
On the same day, Metropolitan Ambrose and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk visited the ancient Zion Cathedral in Tbilisi, where they celebrated a liturgy for His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II at his tomb, and also worshiped one of the main shrines of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the cross of St. Nina Equal–to-the-Apostles.
In the evening, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church was invited to a reception on the occasion of the enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III with the participation of the Primate and hierarchs of the Georgian Patriarchate, delegations of Local Orthodox Churches, the highest government of Georgia, representatives of non-Orthodox Christian denominations and religious associations.
Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashinsky addressed the newly elected Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church with a welcoming speech, conveying to him the heartfelt congratulations from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
In his address, Metropolitan Ambrose drew attention to the fact that the Throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church was decorated with a new Primate in the year of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Georgia. His Eminence also noted that the new Georgian Patriarch will have to continue and multiply the numerous initiatives of His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, among which a special place belongs to concern for the preservation of family and other moral values. "Everywhere in Tbilisi, we saw vivid and vivid evidence that the gospel word in the lot of the Most Holy Theotokos bears fruit and grows – these are the bright, inspired faces of many worshippers, among whom there were many young people and children, and the truly nationwide celebration of Family Sanctity Day," the head of the Moscow Patriarchate delegation testified. He wished His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Shio strength and help from above, assuring that his labors on the Primate's Throne would always be accompanied by the warm prayerful support of the Russian Orthodox Church.