Today Georgia is celebrating one of the most important religious holidays in the country - the St. George's Day or Giorgoba.
Festive services, dedicated to this day, are held in all the acting churches of Georgia. Especially this holiday is celebrated in the Georgian monasteries.
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II has held a festive service today at 10:00am in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi commonly known as Sameba, Sputnik Georgia reported.
George the Victorious - the rider slaying a dragon - is embodied on the national emblem of Georgia, being the traditional patron saint of the country.
According to the legend, the festival was founded by St. Nino. It is known that she was a relative of St. George and she bequeathed the country, which had converted to Christianity, to love him. In the Middle Ages, a total of 365 chapels - the number of days in a year - were built in different parts of Georgia in the name of St. George. The first temple in his honor was built by King Mirian in 335.
Giorgi, deriving from the name George, is the most common male name in Georgia.
The St George's Day is celebrated twice - on November 23 and on May 6. In is the national holiday and declared as the day off.
