Father Petre Kharischirashvili and the Georgian Catholic community

(Vatican Radio) The Georgian Embassy to the Holy See was scheduled on Monday to host a Conference on the life of Father Petre Kharischirashvili, a Catholic priest from Georgia who died 125 years ago.

In the nineteenth century, Father Petre was known for his advocacy of education, and also for establishing a Georgian Catholic monastery in Istanbul. However, few people have heard about him today.

“Father Petre Kharischirashvili certainly is not really well-known, even in Georgia he is not well-known,” said Tamara Grdzelidze, the Ambassador of Georgia to the Holy See.

Listen to the Vatican Viewpoint featuring Ambassador Tamara Grdzelidze:

She wants to place Father Petre in “a larger framework”  of the place of the Catholic Church in Georgia, which has a long history.

“The Georgian kings were eager to be in touch with Rome and with the Pope,” she said.  “There is a correspondence – rich I would say even – from medieval times in which the Georgian royalty are trying to establish good contacts with Rome.”

She said Georgia, since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, has worked to strengthen ties.

“We are an Orthodox country, but we care about everybody who contributes to the welfare and well-being of Georgia,” she said.