Today, the world is in a time of turmoil, confusion, and disorder. Before our eyes, values are being dismantled, friend and foe are getting mixed up, and it is easy to get confused and lose one’s way.
What is our main guiding compass in such difficult times? – It is the knowledge inherited from our ancestors, the shared love and experience, our national memory, and the millennia we have lived through! – This was stated by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, during his address at the event dedicated to Independence Day.
According to Shalva Papuashvili, even today, our main guiding compass is the three divine treasures that have been passed down to us and entrusted to our care by our ancestors – our homeland, our language, and our faith.
“I congratulate everyone on Georgia’s Independence Day! This year marks 34 years since the restoration of Georgia’s independence. Every year of freedom carries a special significance, because each passing year further develops, strengthens, and fortifies our state.
Alongside the consolidation of our national self-awareness, our army is becoming stronger, our borders are becoming more secure, and our statehood and our people’s faith that independence, freedom, and sovereignty will never again be lost are gathering strength.
Soldiers! Today, you took an oath before our homeland, our state, God, and the nation. Before the five-cross flag, you spoke the word “I swear” five times. It is important to remember throughout our lives the oath, the given word, and the sacred purpose for which this oath was sworn.
Today, the world is in a time of turmoil, confusion, and disorder. Before our eyes, values are being dismantled, friend and foe are getting mixed up, and it is easy to get confused and lose one’s way. What is our main guiding compass in such difficult times? It is the knowledge inherited from our ancestors, the shared love and experience, our national memory, and the millennia we have lived through. Even today, our main guiding compass is the three divine treasures that have been passed down to us and entrusted to our care by our ancestors – our homeland, our language, and our faith,” said Papuashvili.
As he noted, Georgia has never lived and can never live without these three concepts. Losing any of this triad would mean that we would lose ourselves as a nation.
“These concepts are our living heritage; ancient, yet bearing modern relevance. We have never lived without them, and we never will. Losing any of this triad means losing ourselves as a nation and as a state.
We are a people for whom the homeland is not merely geography. For us, the homeland is a home; a home in which we have always lived, since the dawn of history. Its care, protection, and preservation is the foremost duty of ours and of every generation. That is why our principal mission and national task is to restore and unite our common home, our homeland, our Georgia, together with our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and sisters.
Our language gives us the means to build a national state, the ability for understanding, love, and goodness. The Georgian language is the stream of thought that preserves our memory, our statehood, cultural and traditional code, which makes us an unrepeatable, unique, and distinct country.
And finally, we are a people faithful to our faith. Our national energy comes from the faith and devotion of every individual, regardless of religion or ethnicity. A godless, indifferent, mocking person who idolizes foreign values can never become a force for progress and creation in their homeland,” stated Shalva Papuashvili.
He said that it is precisely for the protection of these three symbols and three ideas that we take the oath and celebrate independence.
“Anyone who brings false oaths, false intentions, and false teachings sows discord, division, hatred, and evil. We will never hand over this country’s destiny and future to them.
This is why, for the protection of our three symbols, our three ideas, we take the oath and celebrate our independence; so that all together – clergy and laity, city and countryside, at home and abroad – in our shared home, in our ancient language, with firm faith, we publicly confirm our loyalty to our country and take the oath to protect it.
Soldiers! We are the country of Vakhtang, David, Shota, and Tamar; the country that guards the Robe of Christ, the Veil of the Virgin, and the Lord’s Tunic. If we remain faithful to our homeland, our language, and our faith, no evil force will ever overcome us.
Strength is in unity! Regardless of our faith, ethnicity, or place of residence, we are one Georgian people, united by a single energy.
Long live united, independent, free Georgia! May God be our protector!” – stated Shalva Papuashvili.
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