“I have been accustomed to conveying to you the prayers and blessings of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. It is very difficult to address you with a sermon without these words. Congratulations on the Annunciation,” said locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, Mitropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku at the Sioni Cathedral.

Mitropolitan Shio congratulated the parishioners on the Annunciation.

“Today, with special love and reverence, we glorify our Mother. Let us always glorify her. The time came when God sent an angel from heaven to announce to humanity the coming of the Son of God to earth and his birth from a virgin. From a virgin who was to give a human body to God Himself, that is, from now on, full humility became possible. This first became possible in the personality of Virgin Mary, on the Day of Annunciation.

That is why this feast is celebrated as the beginning of our salvation, as the troparion says, the beginning of our salvation, which might not have happened if the Mother of God had not freely accepted it, announced its joy and consent.

Dear sisters and brothers, not only can the heart of the Virgin Mary be opened to the humility of the Holy Spirit, but also the heart of each of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ brought this; the Annunciation brought this. Only humility can give birth to the love of God, and to the aspiration for kindness, truth and beauty can be born from this love,” he said.

Mitropolitan Shio wished the parishioners strong health and “strength and unity to the whole of Georgia.”