Orthodox Georgians celebrate the day of Andrew the Apostle
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The Georgian Orthodox Church is marking the day of the educator of Georgia, Saint Andrew the First-called today.
The Holy Apostle Andrew was the brother of Saint Peter the Apostle, and was the first Apostle to be called by Jesus Christ.
Saint Andrew is an important icon in the religious calendar and the Saint has been important to Georgians since ancient times. Saint Andrew is believed to be a missionary of the Mother of God to Georgia and founder of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
As religious texts said, before he came to Georgia, Saint Andrew was called to the Holy Mother of God and she announced the mission Saint Andrew was to complete - to preach Christianity in Georgia, the land of the Holy Mother of God.
Apostle Andrew entered Georgia from the west from present-day Adjara. He carried with him an icon given to him by the Holy Mother of God.
Saint Andrew died a martyr's death on the cross in the Greek city of Petra.
The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates a commemoration day in his honour twice a year. Today, May 12, marks the day of Saint Andrew’s arrival in Georgia.
The day is an official holiday in Georgia.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday joined celebrations of Georgian Orthodox Church followers of the Day of Apostle Andrew by stating the “values of the gospel have defined our identity, history, culture, statehood, and way of life.”