Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, I congratulate you on the great feast of the Annunciation. I had become accustomed to saying: “I convey to you the prayerful blessing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.” It is very difficult to address you with a sermon without these words. I congratulate you on the Annunciation, — said the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio (Mujiri), during his sermon at Sioni Cathedral on the Feast of the Annunciation.

According to Metropolitan Shio, faith, trust in the Lord, and love are the path to the salvation of the soul.

“Today, with special love and reverence, we look upon the glory and pride of our nation — the Most Holy Theotokos.

May we always glorify her, thank her, and pray to her to be our intercessor, mediator, and advocate, and to grant us the same humility, faith, trust in the Lord, and love, which is the only and sole path to the salvation of our soul.

Once again, I congratulate you on the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. May God bless you and strengthen you. Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, may God remember, have mercy upon, and save the now-departed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II. Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, may God strengthen, unite, and save all of Georgia. May the Lord grant you and all of Georgia much joy,” Metropolitan Shio stated.