Earlier this year a group of eight members of the Bath Interfaith Group travelled to Tbilisi and spent time with Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili, who has created a Peace Cathedral, supporting minority communities and marginalised people in the Georgian capital. As well as a Christian Church, the Bishop has built a synagogue and a mosque behind the East end. There is also a Buddhist prayer space, and he has plans to create a room for interfaith discussion. The church is the cathedral for the Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia, one of the many smaller denominations in a country where the Georgian Orthodox Church dominates.
Revd Heather Smith, Priest in Charge, Christ Church Bath was one of those who made the trip, here she shares with us her experience.
Our experience began with the Maundy Thursday service, and foot-washing. The Bishop had invited the Jewish and Muslim communities, together with an imam recently arrived from Iran, the Yezidi community leaders and others who work with him on his inclusive project. It was heartening to see him washing the feet of such a variety of people who were happy to take part in his inclusive service.
We carried crosses on a walk across the centre of Tbilisi, beginning at the Armenian Church and visiting Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches before returning to the Peace Cathedral for a final service.
The vigil service began at midnight on Saturday, as we celebrated the resurrection with a packed congregation. I was honoured to have been asked to co-celebrate the Eucharist, and spoke the English words to complement the Bishop’s Georgian.
On this joyous pilgrimage we met and got to know representatives of the Peace Cathedral’s various religious communities and experienced fabulous Georgian hospitality including huge quantities of delicious Georgian food and wine.
The Bishop’s work was an inspiration to us all and we hope to maintain and deepen the friendship we have begun.
Find out more about the Peace Cathedral in Tiblisi.
A video of the trip can be seen below.