GEORGIAN PATRIARCH ILYA II: "WE ARE NOT FIGHTING ANYONE AND WE CONSIDER OSSETIANS OUR BROTHERS"
Portal-credo.ru, 9 August 2008
Catholicos-Patriarch of all-Georgia Ilya II addressed Russia, USA, and European countries with a call to do everything for resolving the conflict in South Ossetia peacefully. This was stated by the head of the official Georgian Orthodox church addressing the flock on the evening of 8 August in the patriarchal "Sameba" (Holy Trinity) cathedral in Tbilisi, IA Novosti-Georgia reports.
"I want to ask big countries like Russia, America, and the European countries that they do everything so that this conflict be resolved peacefully," the catholicos-patriarch declared.
"We are not fighting anyone; we are trying to defend our native land. We have considered them (Ossetians) and we do consider them our brothers and we call them to remain like brothers. This conflict is dangerous. I want to ask the Lord that the Lord would give us strength, spiritual strength firstly, and give us wisdom and love. We ask the Lord that he give us peace and prosperity," Ilya II said.
Earlier on 8 August the Georgian patriarchate issued a statement in which the catholicos-patriarch of all-Georgia called the flock of the Georgian church to intensify prayer for peace.
According to the statement of the patriarchate, daily services for peace should be conducted in all active churches of the Georgian Orthodox church until the cessation of military actions. (tr. by PDS, posted 10 August 2008)
Source: http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/0808b.html#16