Georgian Patriarch Shio III: Faith in Christ has sustained our people throughout history

“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 Patriarch Shio III, together with the hierarchs delegated by the sister Orthodox Churches.…