*External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrives in Georgia following bilateral visit to Russia*
*External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrives in Georgia following bilateral visit to Russia*
*Marking a historic moment for the two countries, EAM hands over relics of 17th Century Georgian Queen and revered Saint. Queen Ketevan*
*9th July Tbilisi:* In gesture that heralds a new era for Indian and Georgian relationship, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar handed over the Holy Relic of St. Queen Ketevan to the Government and the people of Georgia upon his arrival to the Georgian capital Tbilisi on the 9th of July.
In a grand ceremony organized by the Georgian Government, Dr. Jaishankar upon his arrival at Tbilisi airport ha nded over the Holy Relic of St. Queen Ketevan to the people of Georgia in the presence of His Holiness and Bea titude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the Prime Minister of Georgia H.E. Irakli Garibashvili.
Describing the ceremony as an emotional moment, the External Affairs Minister tweeted, “Warmly welcomed in Tbilisi by FM @DZalkaliani. Blessed to hand over the holy relics of St. Queen Ketevan to the people of Georgia.”
St. Queen Ketevan was a 17th century Georgian Queen who attained martyrdom and is widely revered in the Ch ristian majority country. Her relics were found in 2005 at the St. Augustine Convent in Old Goa, India, on the ba sis of medieval Portuguese records. Believed to have been brought to Goa in 1627 and interred in St. Augustine Complex, the relics’ authenticity was confirmed by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Centre for Cellul ar and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, who undertook a DNA analysis.
In 2017, at the request of the Georgian Government, India sent the Relics to Georgia for a yearlong exhibition at various churches in Georgia. Considering the persistent request from the Georgian government for permanent transfer of the Holy Relics and also taking into account the historical, religious and spiritual sentiments that are attached to the St. Queen Ketevan by the Georgian people, Government of India in gesture that has resonated deeply with the people of Georgia decided to gift one part of Holy Relics to the Government and people of Geo rgia.
The External Affairs Minister is on a two-day visit to Georgia starting 9th July, during which will have bilateral m eeting with his counterpart as well as other senior Government dignitaries. This bilateral visit is particularly sig nificant because it is first time an Indian External Affairs Minister has visited Georgia since its independence fro m the Soviet Union in 1991.
