In a message for Georgian Catholic community, congratulating on Easter, President Saakashvili said that “the Catholic parish of Georgia was historically, as well as in present day, a devoted foundation of the European choice of our country.”

He also said that Georgia’s Catholic community, which is estimated to be about 35,000, was also “an advocate of European knowledge and experience in Georgia.”

“I will not start naming all of the great Georgian and not only Georgian Catholics, who have contributed to the development of culture, science, and art in our country as there are too many,” President Saakashvili said in the message posted on his website.

In a separate message, the Georgian President also congratulated Armenians, the third largest ethnic group in Georgia, on Easter Sunday.

“The friendship of Georgian and Armenian people has survived centuries and our churches have contributed greatly to the Christian civilization of the world,” Saakashvili said. “The ongoing efforts of ethnic Armenian citizens of Georgia in terms of strengthening our statehood and democratic development are invaluable.”

Orthodox Christians, who follow a religious calendar different from other Christian denominations, will mark the Easter a week later. On April 8, Orthodox Christians marked Palm Sunday.