Orthodoxy in Georgia (Sakartvelo)

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Elder Gabriel's on judging heterodox (who will be saved and who won't): Often Orthodox people will ask who will be saved and who will be not. We should not doubt and we should unshakably believe that Orthodoxy is the only true Religion (Divine Revelation). It is said for comparison that "We Orthodox sail in that ship which will pass through the raging ocean (or the distresses of the world) and will reach destination piece-fully. Others want to get there with happy life and without going though difficulties". In spite of it it's wrong that true Orthodox faithful claims we will be saved but Catholics, Muslims or representatives of other faith will all be damned. How can it be possible that the Creator of the Universe would create millions of people without a way of salvation and sending them all to hell for eternal punishment? Imagine for a second if you were born in Istanbul without a possibility of salvation what would you say about righteous judgment of the Creator? Don't they not have Kind and Good people along the evil ones? Of course they do. Do not think this does not matter. We should firmly believe that God will not leave without some way of salvation those who seek the truth and are God-fearing men. As folk wisdom says: "Blessed Christ God Seats on a Golden Throne Holding scales of justice weighing good and bad" Often God will let such miracles on kind man that he gets baptized and becomes true Christian. It is shameful and and it is sin when a man has no true love and has not truly repented but keeps asserting that Orthodox will be saved and all else will be damned. We can't make such statements and conclusions (whether a man will be saved or damned) not only about a healthy living human but also about a sinful dying man. The Lord says: "If you see a man on his deathbed do not judge for you know not how he will be judged". Sin is one thing and hell is another. They are not the same. Also, salvation is one thing and heaven (or kingdom of heaven) is another. They are not the same. We should firmly believe that without baptism whoever has not put on Christ's light will not see The Kingdom of God. We (Orthodox) are given more and thus we are required more. There's a saying of Holy Fathers: "Three things will surprise saved man in heaven: first that he is there; second that he will see those who he did not expect and third that he won't see those who he was expecting to see". God forbid us to judge any man, not to say judging whole country and whole nation. Fr. Gabriel never judged anybody even those who hurt him, imprisoned him or inflicted any type of injury (spiritual or physical) onto him. The igumenia (see note 1) of Monastery of Samtavro (See note 2) writes: "Fr. Gabriel strictly forbade us to judge anybody preaching thus: 'If you find a murderer or a prostitute or a drunkard alcoholic dropped on the ground never judge him/her, never judge God-created man, since God has let their reins loose but holds you reins under control. If he lets you reins loose you will fall into worse distress and you will be destroyed. As a thread has to go through an eye of the needle one will go through the same sin for which one judged somebody else'"

The Georgian Vine and Christianity 💚 ვაზის თემატიკა ქართულ ჩუქურთმაში სიცოცხლის ხე ანანურის ღვთისმშობლის ეკლესიის აღმოსავლეთ ფასადზე. (XVI საუკუნე) Georgia is recognized as one of the oldest homelands of the vine and winemaking. Archaeological evidence indicates that the cultivation of grapevines and the production of wine have been practiced in the region for thousands of years. Consequently, the vine occupies a central place in Georgia's culture, history, and national identity. Following the adoption of Christianity, the vine acquired an even deeper spiritual significance. According to Georgian Christian tradition, when Christianity became the state religion of Georgia in the early fourth century, the vine emerged as an important symbol of the Christian faith. The cross of Saint Nino, traditionally believed to have been fashioned from grapevine branches bound together with her hair, symbolizes faith, steadfastness, and devotion. This tradition further highlights the profound importance of the vine in Georgian religious and cultural life. Within Christianity, wine plays a central role in the sacrament of the Eucharist, where it symbolizes the blood of Christ. As a result, the cultivation of vineyards and the production of wine in Georgia have long been regarded not merely as agricultural practices but also as expressions of spiritual and cultural tradition. For centuries, Georgian monasteries and churches have maintained vineyards and preserved the country's winemaking heritage. The traditional Georgian method of fermenting and aging wine in qvevri—large clay vessels buried underground—has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reflecting the continuity and uniqueness of this ancient tradition. In conclusion, the vine and Christianity are closely interconnected in Georgia. For Georgians, the vine represents far more than a source of agricultural prosperity; it embodies faith, life, perseverance, and national unity. Respect for the Georgian vine therefore also signifies respect for the country’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

☦️ On June 21, events related to the Christianization of Kurds and Yezidis will take place in Tbilisi. They will be held in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Sameba). After the Sunday liturgy, His Holiness the Patriarch and Catholicos of All Georgia, Shio, will bless the baptized Kurds and Yezidis. Then, at 15:00, a meeting dedicated to the history of the voluntary Christianization of Yezidis in Georgia will take place in the youth center located in the lower part of the Sameba church. At the meeting, Hieromonk Maday (Maamdi) will talk about his meeting with Catholicos and Patriarch Shio, who blessed the formation of an Orthodox Kurdish and Yezidi community, as well as the development of liturgical and translation work in the Kurdish language, with the aim of subsequently making it one of the liturgical languages of the Georgian Orthodox Church. ℹ️ As part of the event, the life of Saint Nino the Equal-to-the-Apostles will be presented in Kurdish-Kurmanji. The meeting will be attended by representatives of Kurds and Yezidis from Georgia, Europe, and Russia who have embraced Orthodoxy, as well as representatives of the Kurdish diaspora. Presentations and testimonies from participants are planned. 🗓 Entry to the meeting is open to all interested parties, regardless of religion. For all questions, you can contact the organizers: info.kurd.orthodox@gmail.com

Patriarch Shio continues Patriarch Ilia’s tradition of mass Baptisms in Georgia https://orthochristian.com/178327.html Under the practice, families who were married in the Church could have their third and subsequent children baptized at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Tbilisi, with the Patriarch himself serving as Godfather.

🇬🇪The new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, will conduct his first mass baptism on June 7th. The ceremony will take place in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity at 20:00. This will be the 73rd mass baptism organized by the Georgian Patriarchate. ▪️The tradition of baptizing the third and subsequent children of married parents was introduced by Patriarch Ilia II to improve the demographic situation in the country. About 50,000 people are his godchildren.

A person is inspired to believe that freedom is merely the rejection of all restrictions. In reality, true freedom is, first and foremost, responsibility, faith in the Lord, inner fortitude, and an honest and moral life. It is the overcoming of vicious traits and passions, and an obligation to do what is right and pleasing to God. A generation raised with the comprehension of these values will be capable of preserving the country's unity and state independence. 🔸 We must not turn freedom into merely a political achievement and a legacy of the past, but we must labor daily and care for its consolidation. May our state independence be founded upon love for God and the homeland, upon justice and peace, unity and tolerance, and service to our neighbor and universal human good, for a strong state is built only when these virtues prevail in society and the people are united by loyalty to common national goals and spiritual-moral values. 🔸 Once again, I congratulate everyone on Independence Day! 🔸 May God bless and strengthen you! 🔸 May God bless, strengthen, and unite Georgia. Amen! ➡️ May 26, 2026

⛪ The Address of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, at the Ceremonial Event Dedicated to Georgia's Independence Day. 🔸 Your Excellency, Mr. President, Your Excellency, Mr. Prime Minister, Your Excellency, Mr. Chairman of the Parliament, Representatives of the Executive and Legislative Authorities, Mr. Minister of Defense, Mr. Commander of the Defense Forces, Servicemembers, Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Compatriots living beyond the borders of our country, 🔸 I congratulate you on Georgia's Independence Day! 🔸 May 26 is a day of supreme significance in the history of our country. It embodies the centuries-old aspiration and struggle of the Georgian people for freedom, and for the defense of the Christian faith and national values. By restoring statehood on May 26, 1918, our nation once again demonstrated before the world its unwavering will to be free, independent, and responsible for its own present and future. 🔸 On the path toward achieving and consolidating independence, the Orthodox Church of Georgia has always been the spiritual pillar of the Georgian nation and the foundation of national unity. It is telling that the restoration of the Church's autocephaly preceded the attainment of state independence. 🔸 Through its aspiration toward truth, the Georgian nation came to know freedom in Christ, and it was precisely this "truth that set it free" (John 8:32). True freedom is not merely an outward expression of independence or a conquest of the past; rather, it primarily implies a person's spiritual state and demands great responsibility from us. It is a work of constant labor, dedication, and loyalty—a service to faith, neighbor, homeland, and righteousness. 🔸 Today, with special gratitude, we remember the dedicated children of our country, those who, through victory in a multi-generational struggle for freedom, bequeathed an independent country to future generations. The labor they performed and the lives they sacrificed for unity and peace obligate us to cherish this achievement. 🔸 In this regard, the legacy of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II is of paramount importance. His half-century of ministry became a vital pillar for the nation's spiritual and state unity, national consciousness, and the reinforcement of the international authority of the Church and the country. 🔸 This year, we celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia. This date is not merely a historical event; it reminds us of the spiritual foundation that for centuries defined the identity, culture, and state consciousness of the Georgian nation. The Christian faith taught our people what true freedom means: love for God and neighbor, fortitude in times of trial, and self-sacrifice for the homeland. 🔸 Imbued with these values, the Georgian nation withstood many a tempest, rose again fortified by faith in Christ, grew stronger, and not only survived and preserved its identity, but also made a significant contribution to the treasury of global spirituality and culture. 🔸 Today, I extend a special greeting to the Defense Forces of Georgia, to every soldier who faithfully protects the dignity and freedom of the homeland. Remember that each of you must become to your compatriots not only a guarantor of state security, but also an exemplar of peace, responsibility, and love for the homeland. The strength of an army should manifest itself not in the desire for war, but in the preservation of peace. Peace is that supreme goal which establishes eternal values and true freedom among men. 🔸 Furthermore, I wish to address our future generation. As the Holy Apostle Paul states: "Ye have been called unto liberty" (Galatians 5:13); you are the hope and fortitude of Georgia! Therefore, it is crucial that you correctly comprehend the essence of freedom. In the modern world, erroneous notions of freedom are frequently encountered.

New book on St. Gabriel of Georgia, Hidden in Humility, now available from Pokrov Publications https://orthochristian.com/177810.html A new book on St. Gabriel (Urgebadze) presents the beloved elder’s life, teachings, and miracles.

“Pray for Me, for the Future of Our Church…”. On the election of the new Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III https://orthochristian.com/177722.html The repose of our beloved Patriarch Ilya II, who headed the Georgian Orthodox Church for about fifty years, orphaned us, so to speak, and since then we have waited impatiently for a new Patriarch.

🇬🇪The celebration of Georgia's Independence Day on May 26 will be fully dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion. Preparations have already begun. Thematic banners have appeared on the facade of the parliament in Tbilisi, along with a portrait of the late Patriarch Ilia II. This year, the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion will last from May 26 to October 14. The organization is being handled by a special commission of the government and the Patriarchate, led by the country's prime minister and Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III. "Specific events are planned abroad, including in our embassies. The diaspora will also be actively involved in all this. For this purpose, visits of religious figures abroad are planned. There will be a wide range of events both within the country and abroad," - said Kobakhidze.

🇬🇪 In Georgia, from May 26 to October 14, large-scale events will be held to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of Christianity being declared a state religion. "The anniversary events will begin on May 26. From June 1, they will take on a more extensive character and will include cultural and educational programs, scientific conferences, and student expeditions. The celebration will continue until the Svetitskhovloba holiday on October 14," — reports the country's government. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the joint commission of the Georgian government and the Patriarchate, which took place in the government administration.