“History bears witness that, despite many trials, failures and sins, the Georgian people have never strayed from the path of Christ,” His Beatitude Patriarch Shio III of Georgia said on Wednesday at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia.
The Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy, joined by hierarchs representing sister Orthodox Churches.
The Romanian Patriarchate was represented by Archbishop Nifon of Târgoviște, Honorary Metropolitan and Patriarchal Exarch.
The historic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is located in Mtskheta, near the capital, Tbilisi, and was built on the site of a fourth-century church.
According to Church tradition, the cathedral stands on the site where the tunic of the Saviour Jesus Christ is buried.
The sermon was delivered during the feast of Svetitskhovloba, dedicated to the site associated with Christ’s tunic and to the Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles King Mirian and Queen Nana.
This year, Georgia marks 1,700 years since Christianity was proclaimed the state religion.
The importance of faith for the Georgian people
The importance of faith for the Georgian people
Patriarch Shio III emphasised that preserving the Christian faith has played an essential role in the Georgian people’s history.
“Faithfulness to these great holy treasures and to the path of Christ has made the survival of our people possible. This is precisely what our great historical figures have always taught us.”
The Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church recalled Christianity’s beginnings in the country, the bringing of the Saviour’s tunic to Georgia, the Apostles’ preaching, and the missionary work of St Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
“St Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles, took up the continuation of this path and apostolic mission when, in the fourth century, through God’s providence and with the blessing of the Most Holy Mother of God, she set out for our country and, through her preaching, revealed to the Georgian people the Truth and the Life — our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.”
The significance of Patriarch Ilia II’s ministry
Patriarch Shio III also recalled the late Patriarch Ilia II‘s ministry, linking it to the strengthening of faith and the spiritual renewal of the Georgian people.
“His ministry of almost half a century was one of tireless service, paternal care and prayer for the strengthening of the true faith and the spiritual renewal of our people,” Patriarch Shio III emphasised.
An international symposium is also taking place in Tbilisi this week to mark the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity becoming Georgia’s state religion.
