Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia III has called on believers to approach the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord not only as a church celebration, but as a personal turning point—starting with how they treat those closest to them.

Speaking in a sermon after the festive liturgy at the women’s monastery of Samtavro in Mtskheta, the Patriarch said that the meaning of the day must be reflected first in one’s relationships and conduct in everyday life.

“Transfiguration must begin with our neighbor, with correcting our relationship with him,” he said, urging the faithful to practice patience, avoid speaking ill of others, and refrain from responding with revenge. Instead, he called on believers to help people and ease their burdens.

The Patriarch also emphasized that the spiritual essence of the holiday goes beyond the traditional blessing of fruits from the new harvest. According to him, the feast is about the inner transformation of the person—moving from what is worse toward what is better.

“Strive to become ‘better than the worst’—to put away anger, greed, pride, and dissatisfaction, and cultivate humility, generosity, kindness, and love,” he said.

He added that change often takes time, but if people work on themselves consistently, the results become visible over the course of months or years. “If we strive this way, then after a few months or years we will be amazed to discover that changes have taken place within us,” the Patriarch noted.

Highlighting the impact of personal example, Ilia III said that the transformation of one individual can influence the wider community—family, friends, and society as a whole. At the same time, he warned against condemnation and harmful words, stressing that people can be “killed with words” when insults and cruelty are mistakenly treated as a defense of good.

“Living constantly in judgment, dissatisfaction, and anger is very heavy and tormenting. It is a real hell,” he said, urging believers to make spiritual transformation the task of a lifetime.

Concluding his address, the Patriarch wished Georgia “transfiguration, strengthening on the path of Christ, and unity,” and called for prayer so that in people’s hearts may live the “light of Christ, love, joy, and peace.”

The celebrations took place at the Samtavro women’s monastery in Mtskheta. The monastery’s main church is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, giving the holiday special significance there. After the services, the Patriarch delivered a sermon to the clergy, nuns, and parishioners, blessed the fruits of the new harvest, and then a cross procession was held around the church.