IN
CONTRAST TO HIS MOSCOW
COUNTERPART, PATRIARCH OF ALL-GEORGIA CONTINUES TO PERFORM
REGULAR SERVICES IN
MAIN CATHEDRAL OF HIS CHURCH
On the
day of
commemorating the holy martyr George the Conqueror, the
celestial patron of
Georgia, 6 May, Catholicos-Patriarch of all-Georgia Ilia II
performed the
liturgy in the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity in Tbilisi.
This was
reported by Sputnik-Gruzia.
In his
sermon after
the service, Ilia II touched on topics of the coronavirus
pandemic. "This
is a warning, a turning point, and we thank the Lord that he is
going through
this with us. . . . May God grant us strength and may it be
God's will so that
sorrow will be turned into our joy," Ilia II said.
Earlier,
in February,
Ilia II described a "vision" he had about drawing a cross on the
forehead, which supposedly will prevent infection by the
coronavirus.
Subsequently he has not mentioned this vision any more.
According
to
tradition, the holiday of Giorgoba was established by Saint
Nino, the
enlightener of Georgia. "This holiday has always been a great
national
holiday in Georgia. . . . The day of Saint George is a holiday
of hope,"
Ilia II said. In many languages the very name of Georgia is
associated with the
name of Saint George.
In
Georgia the day of
Saint George (Giorgoba) is observed twice: on 6 May and 23
November (new
style), but only 23 November is declared a state holiday and
non-working day. On
23 November, St. George was subjected to the torture of breaking
on the wheel,
which in its cruelty is not less than crucifixion; and on 6 May
303 he was
beheaded. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2020)
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