Jaishankar hands over relics of 17th century Georgian Queen St. Ketevan to Georgia
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Her relics had been present in 2005 on the St. Augustine Convent in Old Goa, on the idea of medieval Portuguese data
In heeding to a long-standing request of Georgia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday handed over to the nation the holy relics of 17th century Georgian Queen St. Ketevan almost 16 years after they had been present in Goa.
Mr Jaishankar is on a two-day go to to Georgia, a strategically necessary nation located on the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
“Warmly welcomed in Tbilisi by FM @DZalkaliani. Blessed to hand over the holy relics of St. Queen Ketevan to the people of Georgia. An emotional moment…,” the exterior affairs minister tweeted.
Mr Jaishankar handed over the relics of St. Queen Ketevan to the federal government and the individuals of Georgia at a ceremony in Tbilisi within the presence of Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
St. Queen Ketevan was a 17th century Georgian Queen. Her relics had been present in 2005 on the St. Augustine Convent in Old Goa, on the idea of medieval Portuguese data, individuals conscious of the matter stated.
The relics are believed to have been introduced to Goa in 1627 and interred in St. Augustine Complex.
At the occasion of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, carried out DNA evaluation that confirmed its authenticity, the individuals cited above stated.
In 2017, on the request of the Georgian authorities, India despatched the relics to Georgia for an exhibition for six months.
The relics had been personally welcomed by His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia together with many Georgians on September 23, 2017.
This mortgage of relics was prolonged for an additional six months and was returned to India on September 30, 2018. The relics spent the yr travelling to completely different Churches of Georgia, stated the individuals.
Considering the persistent request from the Georgian aspect for the everlasting switch of the relics and likewise bearing in mind the historic, spiritual and religious sentiments hooked up to the St. Queen Ketevan by the Georgian individuals, India determined to reward one half of the relics to Georgia, the individuals cited above stated.
“This will strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between India and Georgia,” stated one of the individuals.
Mr Jaishankar is visiting Georgia on the invitation of the Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Georgia David Zalkaliani.
During the go to, Mr Jaishankar may have a bilateral assembly together with his counterpart protecting varied features of bilateral relations in addition to alternate views on points of regional and international curiosity, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Thursday.
He can also be scheduled to unveil the newly-installed statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Tbilisi.
The go to would additional strengthen the shut and cordial relations between India and Georgia, the MEA stated.
Mr Jaishankar reached Georgia on Friday after concluding a three-day go to to Russia.
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