The Georgian Orthodox Church received the Holy Fire from Jerusalem and celebrated Easter with solemn services across the country, including a major liturgy at the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi, according to reports by Sputnik.

The Holy Fire, a central symbol of Orthodox Easter representing the light of the Resurrection of Christ, was distributed to churches throughout Georgia, where thousands of worshippers gathered for праздничные (festive) services.

The main Easter service at Sioni Cathedral was led by Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, locum tenens of the patriarchal throne and Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, who delivered a homily and Easter message to the faithful.

In his address, Metropolitan Shio congratulated believers on Easter and emphasized that the Resurrection of Christ symbolizes the victory of life over death. He said that Jesus Christ “through His death and resurrection conquered death—both physical and spiritual,” opening the path to salvation and eternal life.

He stressed that the primary calling of believers remains adherence to the Gospel commandments, noting: “The Lord has opened the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven and calls everyone: if you wish to enter life, keep the commandments.”

A significant part of the message was devoted to the memory of the late Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, who passed away on March 17. The Metropolitan said that for the Georgian people, “orphaned after the loss of their spiritual father,” Easter carries a particularly profound meaning this year.

He described death not as destruction but as a path to salvation and eternal blessedness, and praised the late Patriarch’s contribution to the Georgian Orthodox Church, calling his service an example of love, sacrifice, and spiritual devotion.

Metropolitan Shio also noted that following the Patriarch’s death, the country united in mourning, which he said demonstrated the strength of faith and social cohesion in Georgia.

He emphasized that mutual support, prayer, unity, and love remain essential foundations for the continued spiritual and social life of the country.

Easter celebrations in Tbilisi concluded with widespread distribution of the Holy Fire and festive services attended by thousands of believers across Georgia.