On May 23, the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorated Saint Simon the Canaanite.
According to Church tradition, the Apostle preached Christianity in western Georgia and was martyred in Anakopia. His burial site is located in Koman, near Sukhumi.
Georgia also marked “Abkhazetoba” (Abkhazia Day), established in 2014 by the late Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.
On the occasion, a prayer service for the unity of Georgia, peace, and reconciliation was held at the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral in Tbilisi. Following the service, a memorial service was offered for soldiers and civilians who lost their lives defending the territorial integrity of Georgia.
The service was led by Patriarch Shio III of Georgia. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Grigol (Katsia) of Tsalka and other clergy.
Among those attending were the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Giorgi Jinjcharadze, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Jemal Gamakharia, representatives of the Abkhazian government and Supreme Council, and internally displaced persons from Abkhazia.