Patriarch Ilia II has called on believers to intensify their prayers for Georgia, as the country faces a challenging period. This message was published on the website of the Georgian Patriarchate on May 12, the first Sunday after Easter.

"At present, our country is experiencing one of the most difficult stages of its development. We all desire peace, but it is often difficult to achieve because we behave improperly and do not turn to the source of peace — the Holy Trinity," wrote Patriarch Ilia.

The Georgian Patriarch reminded the faithful of the words of the "Prayer of the Three Holy Youths." According to church tradition, the three disciples of the prophet Daniel — Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael — were thrown into a fiery furnace by the order of King Nebuchadnezzar for refusing to bow to an idol but were saved by the Archangel Michael and emerged unscathed.

"Let us ask the almighty and omnipresent God, just as He saved Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, to save Georgia from its greatest trial and bless us with peace and unity," said Patriarch Ilia in his message.

This week, the Georgian Parliament passed the law on foreign agents in its third and final reading. The consideration of the bill began in April, sparking widespread protests across Georgia. These protests sometimes escalated into clashes with security forces, who used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. According to TASS, on the day the law was passed, the streets of Tbilisi were heavily patrolled by police and special forces, and the parliamentary session was interrupted by a brawl among deputies. The opposition in parliament, President Salome Zourabichvili, the U.S. Embassy, and the EU delegation all opposed the law.

Following the publication of the Patriarch's message, the Georgian Patriarchate stated that the address by the Church's leader was not a political statement but a call for prayer to preserve peace and unity. "Attempting to interpret it on any political basis is incorrect, sad, and distorts the essence of the prayer," emphasized the Patriarchate.