Georgia celebrates Orthodox Easter today
Georgian officials have send their kind wishes to everyone celebrating Easter today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge archive
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Today Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating Easter, which is one of the most significant dates on the religious calendar.
Churchgoers attended mass last night as curfew was rolled back to 11 p.m., however coronavirus regulations such as face masks and social distancing were enforced.
The liturgy started around 11 p.m. last night at Trinity Cathedral in Georgian capital of Tbilisi and other churches. Photo: Nino ALavidze/Agenda.ge archive
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 pandemic in the country, the tradition poses a risk to public health as restrictions have been imposed on visiting cemeteries throughout the country on May 2-4.
President Salome Zurabishvili has also posted in Facebook:
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has wished everyone happiness, peace and health on Easter.
Easter fills us with joy and hope - [and] the hope that life wins over deaths”, he said.
Former Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has tweeted:
Happy Easter! May the miracle of Easter bring you renewed hope, faith, love and joy. Have a blessed holiday! pic.twitter.com/UW5qDN9KUm
— Archil Talakvadze (@A_Talakvadze) May 1, 2021
Meanwhile police officers are patrolling at the cemeteries restricting the entrance in Tbilisi and regions:
The week following Orthodox Easter on May 4-11 has been public holiday in Georgia to curb the possible spread of the coronavirus.
A week following Orthodox Easter on May 4-11 has been declared public holiday in Georgia to curb the possible spread of the coronavirus. The interagency commission led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has also given out the recommendation to employers to move to remote work.
Georgian officials send their kind wishes to everyone celebrating Easter today. Joining the celebrations, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and President Salome Zurabishvili wished the public ‘health, wellbeing and peace on this blessed day.’
The Georgian government has imposed several coronavirus restrictions ahead of the Easter holidays which is marked on May 2 this year. According to the government decision municipal transport will not work across Georgia between 3-12 May. Roads to cemeteries will be closed by police during the holiday to prevent assemblies there. Churchgoers will have to obverse coronavirus rules during the Easter liturgy on May 1-2.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and is celebrated by a feast on the Sunday before Easter.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated the public on the Orthodox Easter and wished them peace and stability on Sunday.