“Without repentance, a person can’t open their heart to God and receive grace,” stated His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, during his sermon on the Feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

Delivering his address at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Patriarch Shio III emphasised that repentance is the primary and indispensable step on the path to spiritual salvation, noting that it must remain a lifelong practice rather than a single act.

“There is nothing more powerful than prayer, nothing sweeter; it unites us with God and serves as the key to divine mysteries. Saint John the Baptist was a great teacher of repentance and prayer. Today, we must ask him to teach us these virtues so that, through his intercession, our faith may be strengthened against trials and external pressures,” Patriarch Shio III stated.

Reflecting on the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, who was beheaded for standing by the truth, the Patriarch called upon the faithful to cultivate courage and integrity.

“Today, our lives unfold amid numerous trials and struggles, and we stand in acute need of heavenly intercession. We must often detach ourselves from earthly attachments and anxieties, lifting our minds towards the heavens and the saints to seek their aid. The more frequently we do this, the more abundantly we will receive their graceful assistance and help,” the Patriarch concluded.