Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia presided over a festive service at Batumi’s Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God on September 21.

The service was held to mark the Orthodox feast dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In his sermon, the patriarch spoke about devotion to the Mother of God in Georgia, the history of Christianity in Adjara and the region’s religious revival. He also thanked Metropolitan Dimitri of Batumi and Lazeti for his decades of service.

“The people of Adjara preserved both the Georgian spirit and their faith at the cost of their blood and lives,” Patriarch Shio III said. He noted that recent decades have seen a renewed return to the Orthodox faith among residents of the region.

According to Georgian Church tradition, Adjara holds a special place in the country’s Christian history. The apostles Andrew the First-Called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthew are believed to have preached in the area. Tradition also holds that the tomb of the Apostle Matthew is located within the Gonio Fortress, near Batumi.

The patriarch highlighted the role of his predecessor, Patriarch Ilia II, who led the former Batumi-Shemokmedi Diocese for approximately seven years. During that time, he traveled throughout Adjara, preached among local communities and helped encourage residents to return to Orthodoxy, Patriarch Shio said.

He also expressed particular gratitude to Metropolitan Dimitri, who has headed the Batumi and Lazeti Diocese for nearly 30 years. Patriarch Shio praised the metropolitan’s work in building churches and monasteries, developing education, supporting charitable initiatives and providing social assistance.

In his homily, the patriarch urged the faithful to reflect on the spiritual meaning of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Christian joy, he said, should be rooted above all in spiritual life, while believers should avoid indifference toward their actions and sins.

At the conclusion of the service, Patriarch Shio presented Metropolitan Dimitri with a panagia depicting the Mother of God as a sign of fraternal respect and gratitude for his service.