The Public Relations Office of the Georgian Patriarchate has released information regarding the festal liturgy and procession to be held on May 17 in connection with the Day of Family Purity.

“May 17 is observed in Georgia as the Day of Family Purity. The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, will celebrate his first festal liturgy at the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral in Tbilisi.

The liturgy will be attended by delegations from various local churches who have arrived specially in connection with His Holiness’s enthronement, as well as other guests, and also by the clergy and monastic community of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Simultaneously, at 11 a.m., a traditional procession will set out from the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George at Kashveti and march to the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral. Parishes and their priests will take part, along with Sunday schools from both the Diocese of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and other dioceses of the Georgian Orthodox Church,” the statement from the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Office reads.

According to the same source, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia will bless the faithful who arrive at the Holy Trinity Cathedral having taken part in the prayer procession.

“Given that May 17 falls on a Sunday, rectors of parishes are granted a blessing to begin their liturgies earlier than usual, so that their flocks may be able to participate in the procession,” the statement from the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Office notes.