On Patriotism
Three divine treasures have come down to us from our fathers and forefathers: homeland, language and faith. If we do not take care even of these, what kind of men shall we be, what answer shall we give to those who come after us?
What is surprising in my loving what is my own more, rejoicing more in what is mine, finding what is mine sweeter and helping what is mine more? The human heart is not a board, after all, so that you can rub one thing out and write something else in its place. The feeling of love for one’s own is just as strong, just as firmly rooted, just as natural — and therefore just as just and worthy of respect — as the love of a father or a mother for a child. No force can tear that love out of the human heart! Every weapon is useless before it!
If a person counts as nothing who he is, what is left in him that is human? Times will change; the time will come when a man who has stepped away from who he is will be despised by all as unworthy — even by those who now gladly shelter such a man and fondle him. The time will come when it will be as plain to everyone as twice two that if a man has deserted his own, he will not be faithful to another’s either. Today few know this truth, and tomorrow many will know it; and then woe to the one who is disillusioned with who he is, indifferent and resigned!
Where on one side is the homeland and on the other something else, the other should be given only from abundance. We are still far, to our misfortune, from abundance, and what is not enough for us and what we ourselves are in need of, we must keep and offer to our homeland alone.
The defender of the homeland and its holy things honourably fulfils the commandment of Christ: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
The homeland is an inseparable part of a person’s life. A man without a homeland is poor in spirit and pitiable. It is through love of the homeland that a person’s spiritual world ripens and takes shape — his aspirations and philosophical views, his sincerity and his love for other nations; for one who does not love himself will not love another either… And one who does not love his own homeland — how will he feel in his empty heart love for the homeland of others?! That is why Rapiel Eristavi said: “The homeland is a mother’s breast; it cannot be exchanged for another… Like the Lord, the homeland is one in the world…” Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
Remember: the gate that leads into the Kingdom of God is our earthly homeland and the Church; therefore love it fervently and do not spare your life for it.
Every nation, every people occupies on the face of the earth a definite space, a definite extent, a definite place or territory. Since a nation is born, develops, is fed and multiplies on one territory, it is by that very fact filled with just such a natural, tender and living attraction to this territory as every loving son is filled with toward the father and mother who begot him. For a conscious person, homeland and parent are corresponding notions, each taking the place of the other and equal. In the heart of a person who has developed rightly — that is, who has escaped one-sidedness, poverty and deformity — the homeland is given as much room as love and respect for his parents, care for their well-being and defence of their dignity. Leonide (Okropiridze), Catholicos-Patriarch
