Georgia celebrates Easter today
The liturgy started around 11 p.m. last night at Trinity Cathedral in Georgian capital of Tbilisi and some other churches throughout the country but few worshippers attended the service amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge archieve
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Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating one of the most significant dates in the religious calendar, Easter.
The liturgy started around 11 p.m. last night at Trinity Cathedral in Georgian capital of Tbilisi and some other churches throughout the country but few worshippers attended the service amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this week, the Georgian government and the patriarchate agreed on that the traditional Easter service on Saturday night would be held with police supervision despite the curfew.
State and health officials had called on worshippers to follow the state of emergency regulations, stay home, maintain social distancing and watch the Easter liturgy on TV.
However, those, who wanted to attend the Easter service had to go to churches until 9 p.m. and stay there until 6 a.m. not to violate the curfew regulations.
Worshippers at large churches had to maintain a 2-meter social distance, while in small churches worshippers had to stay outside during the service. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge archieve
Meanwhile, as all private vehicle traffic has been banned nationwide until April 21, they could only walk to their churches to join in on celebrations.
Some of the churches refrained from gathering last night and instead held Easter service after 6 p.m. this morning.
Those who stayed home gathered at their balconies at 12 a.m. and lit candles to celebrate Easter, shouting at their neighbours: "Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen."
Every year on the day after Orthodox Easter, Georgians visit the graves of their loved ones, bringing with them Easter eggs painted red, traditional pastries and wine to commemorate those who have passed.
But this year, given the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the tradition poses a risk to public health as restrictions have been imposed on visiting cemeteries in cities throughout the country during ten days from April 17.
The UN said Easter “is a very special occasion for Georgia, when many families come together and share a heartwarming celebration”, however, “the community spirit at the heart of Easter includes a sense of responsibility to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19”.
The Georgian government and the patriarchate have reached a long-awaited deal that the traditional Easter service on Saturday night will be held with police supervision despite the curfew.However, the Georgian government calls on worshippers to stay home and follow the state of emergency regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili have sent their warm wishes to all celebrating Easter today.
Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze has again called on the citizens to stay home, avoid public gatherings and maintain social distancing to avoid the further spread of the virus amid the upcoming religious celebrations.
The number of total confirmed cases of coronavirus has increased to 394 in Georgia, including 86 recoveries and four deaths. One of the recovered individuals is a 50-year-old woman, who was transferred from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region into Tbilisi-controlled territory in late March.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has praised the Georgian people for exhibiting a high sense of social responsibility on the Easter holiday yesterday.“The Georgian people have managed to both show a high sense of social responsibility and remain devoted to their faith and the church. This day once again assured us that through standing together, we will achieve the final victory,” Gakharia said.
Amnesty International says in its most recent study that Georgia enacted necessary state of emergency measures on April 21. However, it says that concerns were raised that certain anti-Covid-19 measures were applied ‘in a discriminatory fashion.’
Pope Francis spoke with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili by phone and said he will pray for Georgia on May 14 in his prayer to save the word from the pandemic and named Georgia as a country with ‘great spirituality’ adding that the Georgian nation is ‘precious’ to him.
The patriarchate of Georgia has released the annual message of the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II which is a traditional element of the Christmas service. However, the message was not delivered during the midnight service but was instead published during the day.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia and worldwide are celebrating Easter, one of their most important annual religious holidays, today.
The ongoing wars in the world today, especially the one waged by Russia in Ukraine with its “horrific facts” and the “gravest atrocity”, cause the “greatest heartache,” the annual Easter epistle of the Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II said.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia and around the world are commemorating the Good Friday holiday today, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.