Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany today

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. 

The Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, with the festive liturgy hosted at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. 

After the liturgy, a great water blessing ceremony will be held in the yard of the Cathedral, led by Patriarch Ilia II. 

People attending the ceremony will be sprinkled with holy water and will be able to take some holy water home. It is believed by worshippers the holy water contains immortal features of the river Jordan and is blessed by God. 

Church parish also believe the water of Epiphany is full of healing properties and can purify you of your sins and in times of sickness or trouble, believers can drink the water to help aid them in their discomfort.

Epiphany is one of the 12 main Christian celebrations, and is also called the Feast of the Revelation of God.  

It enjoys the status of a public holiday in Georgia, with a majority of the country's population being of the Orthodox Christian denomination.