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Your Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa,

Dear Father Ilia,

Reverend Fathers,

Distinguished guests,

Beloved and faithful children in the Lord,

With paternal love and spiritual joy, we have gathered today in this Holy Temple of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer—a church with deep roots and renewed purpose—now lovingly cared for by the Georgian-speaking Orthodox faithful of our historic City.

It is with gratitude to Almighty God that we reflect upon the growth of your parish, which has emerged and flourished as a living expression of our Ecumenical Patriarchate’s pastoral vision: to ensure that all Orthodox faithful—regardless of language or cultural background—may worship in their own tongue and preserve their treasured spiritual heritage.

Recognizing the presence and liturgical needs of Georgian-speaking Orthodox Christians in this City, the Holy Great Church of Christ took steps to provide you with a proper home for worship and community life. This led to the designation of this historic church and its surrounding facilities for the use of the Georgian Orthodox faithful—a gesture of pastoral care and solidarity.

In the years that followed, with the blessing and guidance of the Church, your parish began to take shape through the prayers and labours of many, both clergy and laity. The arrival and ordination of Archimandrite Ilia five years ago strengthened this ministry, providing the community with a clergyman who could minister in the Georgian language and who shares in your spiritual and cultural life. His pastoral efforts have helped this community grow in confidence and structure, in faith and fellowship. We express our appreciation for his ongoing diakonia.

The fruits of this collective labour are clearly visible. You have established a thriving Sunday School, published liturgical and devotional texts in the Georgian language, and hosted theological and cultural events that have underscored the enduring connection between the Churches of Constantinople and Georgia—between the Queen of Cities and the ancient capital of Mtskheta.

Equally moving is the witness of your outreach: extending care to Georgian pilgrims, offering spiritual support to the sick, and celebrating both the feasts of the Church and the milestones of the national identity of your motherland. Your parish has become a spiritual home not only for the Georgian faithful in this City, but also in other parts of this country, including Ankara, İzmir, Bursa, Trabzon, and elsewhere.

Your community is not merely an administrative structure; it is a spiritual family. Your dedication to prayer, your attentiveness to culture, and your readiness to serve reflect the true spirit of the Orthodox Church—rooted in tradition, yet open to new growth.

We also note with gratitude the careful restoration of this holy house and the buildings on this property—offered with generosity and devotion, and undertaken in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

Beloved children in the Lord,

Remain steadfast in the Orthodox faith. Guard the unity and peace of the Church. Let your every effort be for the glory of God and the edification of His people. May you continue to serve as a luminous witness of our apostolic tradition and the rich inheritance of Georgian Orthodoxy within the embrace of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In today’s Gospel, the Lord says to His disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” These words are not addressed only to individuals, but to the Church as a whole—and therefore to each parish, each community, and each one of you.

Your parish is called to be that city set on a hill: visible not for its own glory, but to give light to all—in this community and beyond. Your works of faith, your fidelity to worship, your care for one another—these are the good works by which others may be inspired to glorify our Father who is in heaven.

And just as our Lord came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, so too are we called to remain faithful to His commandments—not only in words, but in life. As Christ Himself teaches, “He who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Therefore, teach and lead by example. Preserve the Orthodox faith not only in the books you publish and the prayers you offer, but in the humility, love, and truth you embody each day.

With our heartfelt prayers and Patriarchal blessing, we embrace you all with love in Christ. May God bless you always and may this parish continue to flourish in grace and in truth. 

Χρόνια πολλά! Gamarjoba! Many Years!