“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy,” says God in Exodus 20:8 (NIV). Since creation, the Lord has marked the seventh day of the week as special, holy and full of His blessings. A day made for us: to rest, to connect more with God, to gather as a church, to keep it holy. Jesus kept the Sabbath even in His death. The disciples kept the Sabbath, as did the prophets and patriarchs. However, many nations do not know about this blessed truth, and Georgians are one of them.

The word Sabbath or Saturday in the Georgian language is შაბათი (sha-ba-ti). Surprisingly, this word is included in some days of the week, and its meanings are, at least, interesting: ორშაბათი (two days after Sabbath, Monday), სამშაბათი (three days after Sabbath, Tuesday), ოთხშაბათი (four days after Sabbath, Wednesday) and ხუთშაბათი (five days after Sabbath, Thursday). The root of these words points to the Sabbath as a special day, even though Georgians don’t practice biblical rest on this day but on Sunday.

For Georgians, Sunday is primarily a day of worship and spiritual reflection. On Sundays, the faithful attend Divine Liturgy, the centerpiece of Orthodox Christian worship. This weekly ritual is a time for the community to gather, partake in the Holy Communion, and seek spiritual renewal. The church services on Sunday are marked by elaborate rituals, choral hymns and the lighting of candles, all of which reflect the deep reverence that Georgians have for their faith.

The Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian institutions, plays a central role in the lives of many Georgians. They strictly follow what priests command for their faith, which is part of their national identity. The Georgians must know the truth of the Sabbath and discover the whole true law of God. The way to do that is by sending missionaries. Please join our monthly support team to reach the unreached of Georgia.

• Twitter