His Holiness

Shio III, Patriarch of All Georgia

In the name of the One Creator!

Your Holiness!

On behalf of the believers of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I have the honor of conveying our most sincere congratulations on the occasion of your election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

Your Holiness,

For nearly half a century, I was bound by ties of sincere friendship and brotherhood with your unforgettable predecessor, the Great Spiritual Leader of the Georgian people, the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. Inspired by those ties, we always strove to contribute to the further strengthening of the comprehensive relations existing between our two neighboring and friendly peoples and states — above all, the high-level relations in the spiritual and religious spheres.

There is no doubt that the late Patriarch placed great trust and confidence in you. Your election as Catholicos-Patriarch by the expanded council of the Georgian Orthodox Church reflected the position of the entire Georgian clergy and of the Georgian people regarding that trust and confidence. I am therefore certain that, as his worthy successor, Your Holiness will spare no effort toward the preservation and further development of the exemplary religious and spiritual relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as the fruitful cooperation between our peoples.

I would like to recall that the first Christian religious leader to visit Azerbaijan after our states regained their independence was none other than Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Taking this opportunity, I am proud to invite you to Azerbaijan. I wish to assure Your Holiness that this visit will be met with sincere joy by all believers in Azerbaijan and will be a great honor for me personally.

I pray to the Almighty Creator to bless Your Holiness in your sacred Patriarchal ministry, for the prosperity of the brotherly Georgian people.

Please accept the assurances of my highest respect.

Chairman, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade