Georgian Patriarch’s Christmas epistle: justice, unity “utmost significant” for Georgia’s geopolitical challenges

The Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II delivered his annual Christmas epistle ahead of Christmas mass last night at the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi, in which he “especially” congratulated Ukrainian children, affected by the “severe” consequences of the war, on Christmas, as well as all Georgians and compatriots living abroad, highlighting the “utmost significance” of justice and unity as Georgia has been facing many challenges due to its “difficult” geopolitical risks.

If people live the “right way”, God will help them and “give out his hand of assistance” in inconceivable times and places, the Georgian Patriarch said. 

Conscience is the voice of God. You cannot subdue it, you are not able to predispose it according to your will, and you cannot eliminate it entirely; On the contrary, it makes us feel its presence even when we try to escape”, the Patriarch said, adding the conscience best represented the soul.

The Christmas epistle also reads that if humans, regardless of their profession, live to glorify God and serve “fellow men”, their activities will be considered as divine worship.