Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany
A child being baptised in accordance with the Orthodox tradition. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Orthodox Christians in Georgia and across the world are celebrating the Epiphany today, during which the Georgian Orthodox Church conducts water blessing rituals.
The occasion commemorated the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.
Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II and members of the Holy Synod are holding a festive liturgy at the country's main cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral in central Tbilisi.
After the liturgy, he will hold a water blessing ceremony in the yard of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
A child being baptised. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Those who attend the liturgy are sprinkled with holy water, which they can also take home and drink during the year.
It is believed the holy water contains immortal features of the river Jordan. In times of sickness or trouble, believers can drink the water to ease their discomfort.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 87 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 42 years now.
Georgian top officials, the prime minister, the president and parliament speaker have sent kind wishes on a New Year holiday. “I wish you a Happy New Year 2020! I wish happiness and success to all of you and to our homeland. We welcome the New Year with hope and anticipation of beneficial change. May all our wishes-those of all our citizens, the younger and the elder alike-come true,” Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia said.
Pope Francis invited Georgian Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II to the Vatican next year. In a letter which was published earlier today, Pope Francis recalled his visit to Georgia back in 2016, saying he wished to meet with Ilia II again next year.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi has a debt of 256,652 GEL ($86,818/€76,667) for natural gas fees which have been accumulated for three years, says the Tbilisi Energy.
The 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom by the US Department of States says that Georgian laws and policies continue to grant the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) unique privileges.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 88 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 43 years now.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia and worldwide today are celebrating Epiphany, one of the major dates in the annual religious calendar, with rituals of water blessing and mass baptism held at churches.