Christmas celebration in Georgia

On December 25 some of the Christian community from across the world and in Georgia celebrates the Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christian pilgrims celebrating this holy feast in Georgia, a country that holds great significance in the history of Christianity, attended the midnight Mass to mark the Christmas Eve in the churches.

Meanwhile, tens of Catholic pilgrims earlier crowded into the Cathedral of Our Lady in the old historical part of Tbilisi to attend a procession led by Bishop of Georgian Catholic Church Guseppe Pazzoto.

Bishop Pazzoto, the most senior Catholic cleric in the country, said he wished this holy feast to become the very important day for all people.

"Wish you merry Christmas and peace.”

In his Christmas message Pazzoto also wished merry Christmas to Georgian Orthodox Christians who celebrate Christmas on January 7 in accordance to the Orthodox tradition. 

So the majority of Georgian citizens do not celebrate Christmas on December 25. Today is the working day in Georgia.

Mikheil Kochinian is one of those Catholics who attended the Christmas service at the Cathedral of Our Lady.

"I attended the service to wish happy Christmas to all Christians. Wish you happiness and unity,” said Kochinian.

Meanwhile, the Ministers of Georgia’s Government as well as the Mayor of Tbilisi visited the Cathedral of Our Lady and attended the procession.

Georgia's Government representatives at the procession led by Bishop of Georgian Catholic Church Guseppe Pazzoto. Photo by Tbilisi City Hall.

"I would like to wish merry Christmas to my brothers and sisters. This is the day which is celebrated across the world and evil was overcome with good. Our message this Christmas is a message of unity and peace,” the Mayor of Tbilisi Davit Narmania said.

The Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili also joined in the celebrations in this Our Lady Cathedral to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

"Christmas is the holiest feast and I am happy that I have an opportunity to say merry Christmas and exchanged greetings with my friends and colleagues,” Zakareishvili said.

See also Georgia’s Catholic Christians special Christmas traditions in Lali Tsertsvadze’s article: ‘Georgian Christmas tale’.  

Christmas greetings from Georgia’s Prime Minister and President

Georgia’s Prime Minister and President also congratulated Christmas to all people who celebrate this feast today.

"Today most Christians celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Savior. I wish a Merry Christmas to all our citizens who celebrate this feast on December 25. Every Christmas signifies hope for and faith in a better tomorrow. I wish everyone abundant goodness, love, peace, and prosperity,” PM Irakli Garibashvili said in his Christmas message.

Meanwhile, President Giorgi Margvelashvili also released an announcement said:

"I congratulate all our fellow citizens who celebrate Christmas on this special day, with all my heart. We believe this celebration is related to the renewal and the faith to the bright future. I wish - love, prosperity, peace and happiness has to bring this day to our families and country.”

Christian community who celebrates Christmas on December 25 is not too large in Georgia.

Bishop of Georgian Catholic Church Guseppe Pazzoto holds a Nativity and prays at a Christmas Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady in Tbilisi.Photo by Tbilisi City hall. 

The latest data revealed that there are about 50,000 Catholics in Georgia. This is about 1% of the total population. Most of them live in the southern part of the country, where Catholicism spread back in the 13^th century.

However, the Armenian Apostolic Church followers are the largest Christian grouping in Georgia totaling more than 200000 people. This is about 4% of the total population.

There are over 6000 Baptists in Georgia.