Georgia's Ministry of Culture and the Georgian Orthodox Church have agreed to establish a joint working group to coordinate the preservation of the country's religious cultural heritage and oversee the restoration of historic churches and monasteries.

The decision was reached during a meeting between Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze and Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, according to the press service of the Georgian Patriarchate. The new body will include representatives of the Patriarchate, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation. The parties are expected to approve a joint action plan in the near future.

The working group is intended to strengthen cooperation between the Church and state institutions responsible for protecting Georgia's religious monuments. The meeting was attended by Patriarchate representatives, restoration experts, and senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation.

The initiative comes as Georgia continues several major restoration projects involving nationally significant Orthodox sites. Conservation work is currently underway at the Gelati Monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, restoration efforts at the medieval monastery have been the subject of public debate, with disagreements between church and government authorities and concerns raised by specialists over roofing problems that could threaten the site's renowned medieval frescoes.

The Georgian authorities have also recently announced the launch of a comprehensive research and restoration program for Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project, valued at nearly 5 million lari, is scheduled for 2026–2027 and includes scientific studies, structural monitoring, the preparation of a conservation plan, and restoration work.

Officials expect the creation of the joint working group to improve coordination between the Church and government agencies, accelerate decision-making, and enhance the implementation of key projects aimed at preserving Georgia's Orthodox architectural and spiritual heritage.