Georgian Orthodox Diocese to Mark 1,700th Anniversary of Christianity as State Religion

ASHLEY, PA — The Georgian Diocese of North America will mark the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity becoming the state religion of Georgia with a series of services and events at parishes across the United States and Canada in October. The celebrations are being organized by the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Georgian state with the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

As part of the observances, an icon of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary and the holy relics of St. Gabriel the Monk will be brought from Georgia to the participating parishes. A delegation sent by the Patriarchate of Georgia will accompany the sacred items during their journey through the diocese.

Bp. Saba of North America will preside at Divine Liturgies in Pocono, Pennsylvania, on October 10; Brooklyn on October 11; Philadelphia on October 14; Monroe, New York, on October 17; Middlesex, New Jersey, on October 18; Calgary on October 24; and Innisfil, Ontario, on October 25. Prayer services honoring St. Gabriel will also be held in Philadelphia, Montreal, Vancouver, and Chicago, while a prayer service to the Most Holy Theotokos is scheduled in Washington, DC.

The diocesan schedule also includes services at Georgian parishes in Manhattan and other communities. The diocese described the anniversary observances as a spiritually significant event and invited the faithful to celebrate the milestone with “united faith and love.”

Previously, the UOJ reported that Georgian Patr. Shio III welcomed Metr. Emmanuel of Chalcedon.