Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II delivered his annual Christmas sermon prior to Christmas masse last night at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.

The first part of the epistle discussed the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

In the second part of his sermon, Ilia II prayed for the Georgian borders to strengthen and for the Georgian people to be safe.

“There is fullness of love in loving the enemy and one can find his own soul by sacrificing himself for another person”, - said the Patriarch.

He noted in the sermon that Georgian people have endured much danger over the centuries but are still faithful to Jesus Christ and hope in God: “There is salvation in love, height in humility, greatness in simplicity, joy in serving one’s neighbor, earning in giving and winning in obedience”. 

The Patriarch prayed for world peace as well and asked for the wisdom to differentiate between good and evil.