Georgian Patriarch Shio III highlights family as foundation of national identity

At a sermon delivered at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Mtskheta-Tbilisi Archbishop and Metropolitan of Pitsunda and Tskhum-Abkhazia Shio Mujiri, emphasised the symbolic importance of marking the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents.

He noted that the holiday, established by the late Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II of Georgia, carries forward a spiritual legacy rooted in the protection of moral values, unity, and reverence for the family. According to him, the observance of the day demonstrates that this legacy “continues to live on” within Georgian society.

“As you know, he attached great importance to the protection of moral values. This year we are observing this day for the first time without him, however, by celebrating it, his great spiritual legacy continues to live on - the love, unity, and respect for family purity that he established throughout his service among our people. The tradition of mass baptisms that he introduced will also continue, which has become a factor contributing to the demographic progress and spiritual strengthening of our nation”, Shio III said.

The Patriarch recalled that Christian teaching views the family as a “small church”, a spiritual space where the Lord dwells and where people grow through sacrifice, love, and prayer.

“Christian teaching refers to the family as a small church, a spiritual space where, to quote St. John Chrysostom, the Lord dwells and where we grow spiritually through sacrifice, love, and prayer for one another. Such small churches create a society united by divine grace. Dear guests, on a day like today, your presence here makes us especially feel and see how the faith and love of Christ unite different nations and local churches into one great Christian family, founded on moral and spiritual values nourished by the word of God”, he noted.

Shio III stressed that in today’s world of modern challenges, the Orthodox Church carries a great mission as the foundation of moral values and a unifying force for the nation.

“In today’s world full of modern challenges, the Orthodox Church carries a great mission; as the foundation of moral values, it is a unifying force for the nation and a strengthening pillar of Christian values among the people. Therefore, it is essential that both the Church and the state work together to raise future generations with dignity and to protect family purity and love. We must all realize that the family is not only a private space, but the foundation of national identity. It is the strength of the family that determines a strong and united state”, Shio III said.

The Patriarch also thanked representatives of local Orthodox Churches for their care toward Georgian compatriots living abroad, easing the pain of separation from the homeland.

“When speaking about the family, we must also remember our spiritual children living outside Georgia and thank you, dear guests, representatives of local Orthodox Churches, for your care for our compatriots, for the spiritual comfort offered within your churches to Georgians abroad, and for easing the great pain caused by being far from their homeland”, he noted.

“Thanks be to God and to each of you here that through our gathering, unity, and love we continue to serve the Church and the nation. May our hearts always remain bound together in the wondrous love for one another, so that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ may be fulfilled in us: ‘By this shall all know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.’ Christ is Risen!”, the Patriarch concluded.