We have become so hardened and embittered that it is difficult for us to repent, purify ourselves, and thereby bring joy to the Most Holy Theotokos, for this is her joy, said Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, during a sermon on the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

According to him, when a person is healthy and lives in prosperity, they often do not wish to think about their sins, God, repentance, or higher matters.

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Dear fathers, brothers, and sisters, I congratulate you on the glorious Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, which coincides with Sunday. I convey to you the blessings and prayers of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

Today, the heavens rejoice, the earth rejoices, and the Holy Church joins in this joy, singing in the festal troparion: ‘Thy Nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe.’ This joy lies in the fact that God sent into this world the Most Holy Mother and our Queen—the Theotokos.

Her coming testifies, dear brothers and sisters, that humanity is not abandoned or doomed to perish in sin; as our Lord Jesus Christ says: ‘The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19:10). The Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, had to come to this earth, and the Most Holy Theotokos was born to become the bearer of the Uncontainable and the ark of the greatest sanctity in this world. She fulfills the will of the Most Holy Trinity, and therefore the Church sings to her with such joy, calling her ‘the Mother of Christ our God,’ ‘the Queen of heaven and earth,’ comparing her to the dawn that heralds the rising of the Sun, the shining forth of the Sun of Righteousness. With great reverence, the Holy Church also calls the Most Holy Theotokos the helper and intercessor of sinful humanity.

It is not an easy task to aid the fallen and the unworthy. This mission is not easy for the Theotokos either, for we differ so greatly in our failings and sins, creating difficulties for ourselves, as we build walls and obstacles that distance us from God and the Most Holy Theotokos. We have become so hardened and embittered that it is difficult for us to repent, difficult to purify ourselves, and thereby bring joy to the Most Holy Theotokos, for this is her joy.

Many of us find it hard to repent—some because of youth, others because of worldly attachments or various other reasons. When a person is healthy and lives in prosperity, they often do not wish to think about their sins, God, repentance, or higher matters. Even among those who have lost their health or other earthly blessings, many forget God and the Theotokos. In general, we often forget the Lord and the love and maternal care of the Theotokos.

But no matter what state a person is in, they remain a child of the Theotokos. The Theotokos is there for everyone: for the good and the bad, the strong and the weak, the faithful and those of little faith. Her love, maternal care, prayers, and intercession surpass everything. She loves all her children and prays for everyone to her divine Son. Therefore, it is impossible for our Lord Jesus Christ not to hear her requests. No mother’s prayer goes unanswered, dear brothers and sisters, especially the prayer of the Mother who embodies the fullness of maternal love.

The Most Holy Theotokos grieves for us, she weeps for us, with us, and on our behalf; she ceaselessly and fervently prays to her Son for us sinners, that He may grant us mercy. Through her prayers, our Lord Jesus Christ grants us everything we need for our earthly and eternal life.

This is why we always turn to her and beseech: Have mercy on us all, O Most Holy Mother and our Queen, ever-Virgin Theotokos! Grant us all that we need for our lives. Bless, strengthen, unite, and save your chosen Georgia. Strengthen our great lord and father, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. Protect our Church and our homeland from visible and invisible enemies. Have mercy on us and preserve us, for you are the protector and intercessor of your servants and handmaidens. Amen.

Once again, I congratulate you, dear brothers and sisters. May the Most Holy Theotokos intercede for us and all of Georgia. Amen,” said Metropolitan Shio.