Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia urged the faithful to seek inner spiritual renewal rather than rely on sacred relics as a guarantee of salvation during celebrations of Blachernoba, one of the Georgian Orthodox Church's most significant feast days.

Speaking during the July 15 festivities at the Cathedral of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Zugdidi, where the revered Robe of the Virgin Mary is preserved, the Patriarch emphasized that holy relics benefit believers only when approached with faith, prayer, repentance, and a commitment to living according to Christian teachings, the Georgian Patriarchate's press service reported.

Blachernoba commemorates the translation of the Robe of the Mother of God to the Blachernae Church in Constantinople in the fifth century. According to Georgian Church tradition, the relic was later brought to Georgia, where it has been preserved in the Samegrelo region for centuries. The feast attracts thousands of pilgrims each year and is regarded as a symbol of the Virgin Mary's special protection over the country.

In his homily, Shio III reminded worshippers that Georgia is home to two of Christianity's most revered relics—the Robe of Jesus Christ and the Robe of the Virgin Mary. However, he stressed that possessing such treasures alone does not bring salvation.

"Holy relics, with which Georgia is so richly blessed, do not save us by themselves," the Patriarch said. "They must be approached with faith, prayer, repentance, and obedience to God's commandments. Then a person receives the grace that, through these relics, helps lead the soul to salvation."

The Patriarch said the feast serves not only as a remembrance of a sacred historical relic but also as a call for believers to examine their own spiritual lives. Comparing the soul to a garment received at baptism, he said Christians often "stain" this spiritual clothing through sin, passions, weak faith, and spiritual negligence.

"Today's feast calls us to pray to the Mother of God to help us overcome our passions, cleanse our souls from sin, and restore the purity of our spiritual garment," he said.

Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, Shio III recalled Christ's teaching that a person is defiled not by external things but by the evil that proceeds from the heart. He said Christians should therefore focus their efforts on overcoming inner passions such as pride, greed, anger, and other sins that separate people from God, rather than concentrating solely on outward expressions of piety.

The Patriarch also thanked Metropolitan Gerasim of Zugdidi and Tsaishi for his role in developing the annual celebration, saying that years of work had transformed Blachernoba from a local church observance into a nationwide event that brings together worshippers from across Georgia.

Addressing the people of Samegrelo, where he served as a bishop for more than two decades before becoming Patriarch, Shio III said the region had played an important role in preparing him for his current ministry. He concluded his sermon by calling for prayers for unity, peace, and love, asking the Mother of God to strengthen faith in Christ and bless all of Georgia.