Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia Received British Ambassador Gareth Ward

On June 11, 2026, Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia received Gareth Ward, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Georgia, at the Patriarchal Residence. The two discussed issues related to education, the preservation of spiritual and family values, cultural heritage, as well as the international agenda and the role of the Christian tradition in European civilization.

According to the Orthodox Times, the meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Patriarch Shio welcomed the British diplomat and expressed his gratitude for his visit, noting in particular Gareth Ward’s fluency in the Georgian language. According to the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, this is a sign of deep respect and affection for Georgia, its culture, and its people.

During the conversation, the Patriarch emphasized the importance of family, moral, and spiritual values, as well as the importance of the upbringing and education of young people. He commended the ambassador’s attention to youth and educational initiatives and welcomed the support that the United Kingdom provides to Georgian society in these areas.

Gareth Ward, in turn, thanked the Patriarch for his warm welcome and hospitality. He noted the significant role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the country’s public life and once again expressed his condolences on the passing of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, emphasizing his high standing both in Georgia and abroad.

The ambassador also conveyed congratulations from King Charles III and the head of the Church of England on the occasion of the enthronement of Patriarch Shio III. Special attention was given during the meeting to current international developments and the challenges facing the world, including the need to preserve and promote Christian values.

The parties discussed educational reforms in Georgia, including the “Values-Based Education” program recently introduced in public schools, which is being implemented through cooperation between the state and the Church. Patriarch Shio noted that the initiative is partly based on British educational experience and aims to strengthen the moral and civic education of young people.

Another topic of discussion was the restoration work at the Gelati Monastery complex. The Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the British scholars and specialists participating in the restoration projects, and the ambassador reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s readiness to continue cooperation in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

In addition, Patriarch Shio III noted that this year Georgia is celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion and spoke about the commemorative events planned for the occasion. The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts.