On May 17, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III will celebrate his first festal liturgy at the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral [Sameba Cathedral] in Tbilisi, to be attended by delegations from various local churches who have travelled to Georgia for His Holiness’s enthronement, as well as other guests. The Public Relations Office of the Georgian Orthodox Church released this information.

“May 17 is observed in Georgia as the Day of Family Purity. The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, will celebrate his first festal liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Tbilisi. The liturgy will be attended by delegations from various local churches who have arrived specially in connection with His Holiness’s enthronement, as well as other guests, and also by the clergy and monastic community of the Georgian Orthodox Church,” the statement from the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Office reads.

Furthermore, according to the Patriarchate, a traditional procession will simultaneously take place at 11 a.m., setting out from the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George at Kashveti and making its way to the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral. Parishes and their priests will take part, along with Sunday schools from both the Diocese of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and other GOC dioceses.

The Patriarchate also states that the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia will bless the faithful who arrive at the Holy Trinity Cathedral having taken part in the prayer procession.

“Given that May 17 falls on a Sunday, rectors of parishes are granted a blessing to begin their liturgies earlier than usual, so that their flocks may be able to participate in the procession,” the statement from the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Office notes.