The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, has received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Georgia, Olivier Courteaud.

The meeting was attended by the Vicar of the Catholicos-Patriarch, Metropolitan Theodore (Chuadze) of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti; Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Patriarchate, Metropolitan Gerasime (Sharashenidze) of Zugdidi and Tsaishi; Secretary to the Catholicos-Patriarch, Archpriest Mikhael Botkoveli; Head of the Public Relations Department of the Patriarchate, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze.

The Ambassador congratulated the Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church on his enthronement as Patriarch and personally conveyed the French Government`s congratulations. The Catholicos-Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the French Ambassador and the French Government for their well-wishes.

During the audience, discussions touched upon the historical and cultural bonds between Georgia and France, with both parties emphasising the profound significance of bilateral relations.

For his part, the Ambassador noted that France firmly supports peace in Georgia, its national sovereignty, and the continuation of cultural and educational cooperation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Patriarch presented the guest with a jubilee cross, specially crafted to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia.