Clerics in Georgia bury streets with holy water

Today, May 17, Georgia celebrates the day of strength and sanctity of the family, in connection with which it is planned to march clerics in Tbilisi with the carving of streets with holy water. According to the Patriarchate of Georgia, today the week-long celebrations of recognition of Georgia by the gift of the Holy Virgin are also ending, in connection with which a solemn service will take place, at which the Catholic Patriarch of All Georgia Elijah the Second will bless families, the capital and the whole country. After the end of the service with the blessing of the Patriarch priests will travel the streets of Tbilisi by cars with icons, bury the streets with holy water and bless the population. The motor march will begin at 13:00 from the territory of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, where the festive divine service will take place. Family Holiness Day was established in Georgia on the initiative of the Catholic Patriarch of All Georgia as opposed to the day celebrated by the pro-Western Georgian society and LGBT members of the Day against Homophobia. Orthodox parishioners and some politicians of anti-Western and patriarchal bias strongly protested against the organization of LGBT actions and demonstrations on the day of 17 May and organized their protests in parallel, which resulted in open clashes several times. The protest of the population against the open celebration of the day against homophobia by LGBT members was considered by the representatives of the Patriarchate as propaganda of values and traditions unacceptable to Georgian society and the introduction of an inappropriate lifestyle to the population. Family holiness day Georgia has been celebrating since 2014, after a mass clash of opponents of anti-homophobia day celebrations with members of LGBT society took place in Tbilisi on May 17, 2013.