Your Holiness and Beatitude!
Today, the Georgian people extend to you their heartfelt congratulations, with great love and profound respect, on the 48th anniversary of your enthronement.
It is a special grace of God that, during the time of the great trials our country endured under atheistic rule, you were the wise helmsman of the Georgian Orthodox Apostolic Church. In those difficult periods of history, when the Georgian people faced severe crises, you were their protector and support. You bore upon yourself every challenge and attack, and with your costumery calm and ceaseless prayer, you continued your work to protect unity of the nation and the Church.
With the greatest reverence, gratitude and respect, we congratulate you on the 48th anniversary of your enthronement, and we especially note that were it not for your tireless service, it would have been impossible for the Orthodox Apostolic Autocephalous Church of Georgia to be presented to the entire world with the dignity it is endowed with today.
Your Holiness and Beatitude! Fully aware of your great service to the Orthodox Church, our country and our people, we pray to God that He might grant you many more years of life and good health, so that the grace of your pastoral prayer may continue to aid and protect the God-blessed Georgian people and our Georgia, entrusted to the care of the Mother of God for as long as possible.