Georgian leaders offer holiday wishes to those celebrating Christmas today

Today, a major part of Christians all over the world are celebrating one of the most important religious holidays of the faith - Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and President Giorgi Margvelashvili offered their Christmas wishes to all Georgians who celebrate this holiday today.

• In pictures: Tbilisi Holiday Lights 

"I am wishing a Merry Christmas to those of our compatriots who celebrate this great holiday on December 25”, Kvirikashvili wrote on Facebook.

"The birth of Jesus Christ is the symbol of renewal. It is the celebration of kindness, love and mercy.”

President Margvelashvili stressed that the birth of Jesus is a sign of freedom.

"I am joining in on your happiness. Let this great celebration of freedom bring love and peace to our families and our homeland”, Margvelashvili wrote.

• See also: Georgian Christmas tale

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

The latest data revealed there are about 50,000 Catholics in Georgia, or about two percent of the total population. Most live in the southern part of the country, where Catholicism spread in the 13th century.

Georgian Orthodox Christians, who make up the majority of population, will celebrate Christmas on January 7.