New President of Georgia takes oath before God

Mikheil Kavelashvili. Photo: EDaily

The inauguration of Georgia's sixth president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, took place on December 29, reports Echo of the Caucasus. The ceremony was held against the backdrop of state flags bearing crosses. As the national anthem played, the Constitution and the Bible were brought forward. Kavelashvili took an oath not only to the people but also to God.

"I, the President of Georgia, before God and the people, swear to uphold the Constitution of Georgia, the independence, integrity, and indivisibility of the country; to conscientiously fulfill the duties of the President; to care for the safety and well-being of my country’s citizens; and to work for the revival and greatness of my people and homeland," he declared.

In his inaugural speech, Mikheil Kavelashvili emphasized the importance of Christian faith in the country’s history:

"Christian faith played a special role in the final formation and unification of our nation. Over time, Orthodoxy and Georgian identity became inseparable, forming a single concept," he said.

The new president was elected by an Electoral College rather than through public elections. He is not recognized by outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, the opposition, or a significant portion of the country’s international partners.

As SPZh previously reported, on December 3, 2024, Epifaniy Dumenko, leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), made a statement effectively supporting the protests in Georgia organized by opposition forces.

Read also

KDAiS professor: Faith in the One Church is not a myth, but a reality

According to Bortnyk, UOC believers “feel a threat to their Orthodox Christian identity, which they have defended for a significant part of their lives.”

Video shows persecuted community in Panka celebrating Palm Sunday

A week after their church was seized, parishioners in the village of Panka, Bukovyna, managed to find a new place for prayer.

Five nuns tonsured at Belyiv convent

The rite of monastic tonsure was performed by Archbishop Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh.

During church raid in Verkhni Stanivtsi, police officer strikes parishioner

A soldier has published a video showing a police officer striking his mother, a parishioner of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Holy week begins – the path of Christ’s suffering

Holy Week has begun – the most solemn time of the Church year, marked by strict fasting and intense prayer.

Rector in Stanivtsi: We would have died of despair unless we were believers

After their church was seized, the faithful of the community gathered for Palm Sunday prayers in a small chapel belonging to the parish.