Patriarch Shio III: The Georgian people have never deviated from the path of Christtranslated

"History testifies that despite many trials, falls and sins, the Georgian people never deviated from the path of Christ," His Beatitude Father Shio III, Patriarch of Georgia, said Wednesday at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia.

The Holy Liturgy was officiated by the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, together with the delegated hierarchs of the sister Orthodox Churches. The Romanian Patriarchate was represented by His Holiness Father Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, Honorary Metropolitan and Patriarchal Exarch.

The historic cathedral "Svetitskhoveli" is located near the capital Tbilisi, in Mtskheta, and was built on the site of a place of worship from the fourth century. The cathedral was built on the place where the shirt of the Savior Jesus Christ is buried.

The sermon was delivered in the context of the Svetitskhovloba celebration, dedicated to the place where the shirt of Christ and the Saints are buried along with the Apostles, King Mirian and Queen Nana. This year, Georgia marks 1,700 years since Christianity was proclaimed as the state religion.

The importance of faith for the Georgian people Patriarch Shio III together with the hierarchs…