The Metropolitan Bishop of Tbilisi Congratulates the Archbishop-Elect of Canterbury

The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally
Bishop of London
Archbishop-Elect of Canterbury

The Right Reverend Sister in God,

It is with profound joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of hope that I write to offer my heartfelt congratulations to you — and indeed to the whole Church of Christ — on your appointment as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. The significance of this sacred moment cannot be overstated. Your calling carries immense meaning not only for the Anglican Communion, but also for the wider Christian family and for countless people of goodwill across the world who look to Canterbury for wisdom, moral courage, and light.

I have the honour of serving as a head of a small yet profoundly meaningful church in the ancient land of Georgia — a country whose Christian roots reach back to the earliest centuries of the faith. In 2008, we consecrated our first woman bishop, the Right Reverend  Rusudan Gotsiridze, in what remains a deeply patriarchal society. The early years of her episcopal ministry were far from easy; yet through steadfast faith, humility, and courageous witness, she has become one of the most respected and influential religious voices in our nation. Her journey offers us a glimpse of the transformative hope and renewal that your own leadership will bring — not only to the global Church, but to the wider fellowship of world faiths and all who seek peace in our fractured world.

Your wisdom, grace, and compassion — grounded in a life of faithful service and pastoral discernment — will, I am confident, enable you to serve as a powerful and prophetic voice in these times of division and uncertainty. The world stands weary from wars and strife; yet the Gospel calls us to be artisans of peace, builders of bridges, and witnesses to the reconciling love of Christ. Please be assured of our continuing prayerful support for your forthcoming archiepiscopacy — for the glory of God’s Kingdom and for the good of all people, of every faith and of none.

May I also take this opportunity to extend a most cordial invitation to visit Georgia at your convenience. The Peace Cathedral in Tbilisi has had the honour of welcoming some of your predecessors, and it would be a profound blessing and joy for us to receive you among us. The Peace Cathedral is home to a Christian Church, the Peace Synagogue, the Peace Mosque, the Buddhist Peace Temple, and an Oratory of Reconciliation — consecrated by a former Archbishop of Canterbury — all under one roof and at one address, dedicated to prayer, dialogue, and the peace of the whole human family.

With my warmest wishes, blessings, and fraternal affection in Christ,

The Most Revd Prof Dr Malkhaz Songulashvili
Metropolitan Bishop of Tbilisi,  Evangeical Baptist Church of Georgia

For the original of the letter see: The Metropolitan Bishop of Tbilisi Congratulates the Archbishop