Patriarch Shio III urges Orthodox Christians to seek ‘spiritual joy’ on Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III has urged Orthodox Christians to reflect on the source of their joy.

Speaking during a service marking the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Monday, Patriarch Shio said Christians should examine whether the feast brought them genuine spiritual joy or whether their happiness was primarily tied to worldly matters.

“The birth of the Virgin Mary should be a personal joy for us. If it is, we are on the right path,” Shio III said. “If we do not have such a state and cannot feel spiritual joy, we must come to our senses, correct ourselves and pray to God to save us from this hardened insensitivity.”

The Patriarch said people often experience worldly forms of happiness that are temporary, while the Church's celebration of the Virgin Mary's birth represents a deeper spiritual joy.

“Today heaven and earth rejoice, and the Holy Church sings of this joy,” he said, referring to the Orthodox hymn for the feast, which says that the Virgin Mary's birth announced joy to the whole world.

Shio III said the Virgin Mary, whom Orthodox Christians believe became the mother of Jesus Christ, continued to be regarded in Georgian tradition as the protector of the Georgian Church and people.

He urged worshippers to examine what causes them to rejoice and what causes them sorrow, saying that people can become emotionally detached from their faith through indifference, shame about their beliefs or a lack of awareness of their sins.