21-05-2026

Archbishop Simon of Brussels and Belgium, along with the clergy and parishioners of the diocese, made a pilgrimage to Georgia.

From May 21 to 28, Archbishop Simon of Brussels and Belgium, along with the clergy and parishioners of the diocese, arrived in Georgia on the eve of the feast day of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker. The following morning, the pilgrims prayed and received Holy Communion at St. Nicholas Church in Kutaisi. Following the service, the city's clergy hosted a festive reception in honor of Archbishop Simon and his companions. After the meal, the group visited the famous 11th-century Bagrati Cathedral and then headed to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Along the way, they visited the renowned Ubisi Monastery, with its renowned 14th-century frescoes dating back to the Palaeologian Renaissance.

In Tbilisi, the pilgrims stayed in a beautiful villa provided by the hosts. From there, the group toured various holy sites of ancient Iberia each day. They visited the ancient churches of Didi Ateni (Ateni Sioni) and Jvari Vazisa ("the cross standing there"), dating from the 6th and 7th centuries, and the ancient Georgian Orthodox Cathedral of Svetitskhoveli ("Life-Giving Pillar") (11th century). In Mtskheta, they venerated the relics of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze), housed in the ancient Samtavro Monastery. On Sunday, they prayed and received communion in the old Patriarchal Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi and visited the church, cave, and spring of St. David of Gareji on Mount Mtatsminda. They also took a tour of the capital of Georgia.

We also climbed the famous Cross Pass, located on the Caucasus ridge, with the renowned churches of Stepantsminda at an altitude of over 2,600 meters above sea level, as well as the Monastery of the Holy Archangels, located on the border with the Russian Federation.

In Kakheti, we visited Georgia's tallest cathedral, Alaverdi (11th century), and the city of Telavi, near which we dined in one of the region's oldest wineries. We also visited the Zadazeni Monastery, dedicated to the Prophet John the Baptist, founded in the 6th century, and the Tskneti Monastery, where pilgrims were warmly welcomed by the abbot and nuns.

We had very cordial meetings with the clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church, who visited Archbishop Simon and his companions daily. All this was accompanied by the wonderful and harmonious singing of Georgian hymns.