Georgia celebrates Orthodox Easter
The moving holiday, celebrated annually on the first Sunday after the spring equinox, marks the resurrection of the martyred Christ, and is preceded by 48 days of fasting which began on March 7 this year. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Orthodox Christians in Georgia and worldwide are celebrating Easter, one of their most important annual religious holidays, today.
The holy liturgy service began at 11 p.m. last night at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and other churches across the country, and continued until the early hours of this morning.
The moving holiday, celebrated annually on the first Sunday after the spring equinox, marks the resurrection of the martyred Christ, and is preceded by 48 days of fasting which began on March 7 this year.
Congregants who attended the liturgy at churches were able to receive the Holy Fire brought from Jerusalem to Georgia by a charter flight last night.
Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister, congratulated the Orthodox Christians around the world on the date, wishing “peace, joy and spiritual peace” to families in Georgia.
მართლმადიდებლურ სამყაროს ვულოცავ აღდგომის ბრწყინვალე დღესასწაულს!
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) April 24, 2022
მაცხოვრის მკვდრეთით აღდგომის რწმენამ გაგაძლიეროთ, მშვიდობა, სიხარული და სულიერი სიმშვიდე მოგიტანოთ თქვენ, თქვენს ოჯახებსა და სრულიად საქართველოს.
ქრისტე აღდგა! ჭეშმარიტად აღდგა! pic.twitter.com/s8pXz4WKXy
Georgian Prime Minister also congratulated the public on Easter and wished people “peace, renewal and stability”, noting the date was associated with “hope, renewal and faith in a better future.”
Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia Andrius Kalindra wished a happy Easter to Georgians and Orthodox Christians worldwide, saying “this holiday symbolises rebirth and hope - two important concepts much needed in the dark days experienced by the world at the moment.”
Wishing Happy Easter to dear #Georgians and everyone who celebrates it today. This holiday simbolizes rebirth & hope - two important concepts much needed in the dark days experienced by the world at the moment pic.twitter.com/orMRRjykNL
— Andrius Kalindra (@a_kalindra) April 23, 2022
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia Maaike van Koldam also congratulated those who celebrate the Orthodox Easter wishing “hope and peace.”
Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Orthodox Easter. May #Easter bring hope and peace to all in difficult times. #LifeWillPrevail
— Maaike van Koldam (@MaaikevanKoldam) April 24, 2022
???? Gremi church Kakheti ???????? last week pic.twitter.com/7YCHF5yAwd
Georgians paint boiled eggs in red and bake a special cake called paska during Easter festivities. Traditionally, they also visit the graves of their loved ones the day after the Orthodox Easter bringing the Easter eggs, pastries and wine to the place in commemoration.
Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the day after Easter Sunday are public holidays in Georgia.
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.’
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.
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.
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.