Tens of thousands of Georgians took part in family marches on Sunday in several cities across the country. Following the rally in Tbilisi, Patriarch Shio III of Georgia celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in the Georgian capital since his enthronement.
“Why did God grant man family life? In order to lead him towards the Kingdom of Heaven, because the family is a great school of love, where man learns this essential virtue necessary for the salvation of the soul — sacrificial love,” His Beatitude said in his homily.
The Patriarch of Georgia urged the faithful to preserve family values and to welcome all the children granted by God, warning that happiness cannot be built upon abortion.
“On the contrary, where every two or three years a child is born — an angel sent by God — there is happiness, because through his very existence he warms, enlightens and pours grace upon everyone around him,” Patriarch Shio III said.
“As we know from large families and from parents themselves, the beginning is more difficult; up to the third child, the hardships are greater, but afterwards they diminish considerably, and it becomes easier to raise and guide a large family.”
Senior officials and representatives of Sister Churches
Attending the service were guests from the Sister Orthodox Churches and senior state officials, including Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.
Similar marches also took place in the Georgian cities of Rustavi, Kutaisi, Gori, Batumi, Akhaltsikhe, Zugdidi, Telavi, Mtskheta and Ozurgeti.
Participants — many dressed in traditional folk costumes — carried national flags and church banners while chanting religious hymns.
About Georgia’s family marches
The March for the Sanctity of the Family, held annually on the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents, was established in 2014 at the initiative of the late Patriarch Ilia II in order to strengthen family values.
Patriarch Ilia personally baptised every child born after the first two in Georgian families — a tradition that will be continued by the current Patriarch Shio III.
