On November 28, Georgian Church hierarchs, accompanied by Georgian diplomats, unveiled a mosaic stele depicting the Icon of the Mother of God of Iveron in the Vatican, reports the website of the Georgian Patriarchate.
The ceremony was attended by Georgian diplomats, along with Metropolitan Gerasim of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, head of the Department of Mission and Evangelism of the Georgian Patriarchate, Metropolitan Daniel of Sachkhere and Chiatura, and Archpriest George Zviadadze, the rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary.
The idea of installing the stele had been under discussion for several years between President Zurabishvili and Pope Francis. Initially, the plan was to install an image of Saint Nino, but later, it was decided to erect a mosaic stele of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Funding for the creation of the stele was provided by the Georgian authorities. In his letter to Pope Francis regarding the event, Patriarch Ilia referred to it as "yet another proof of the friendly and truly fraternal relations established between our country, the Vatican State, and the Georgian Church."
According to the Patriarch, this event marks "a new page, a historical day, and a date in the relations between our countries and Churches," a moment celebrated by "the holy apostles Peter and Andrew the First-Called – the founders of our Churches."