The history of Catholicism in Abkhazia spans centuries. In the 13th-14th centuries, missionaries arrived in the region alongside Genoese merchants and by 1318 an archiepiscopal see was established in Sebastopolis (modern-day Sukhum).
Over time, the community grew: in the 16th century, Armenian Catholics began to settle in Abkhazia and, in the latter half of the 19th century, following uprisings in Poland, exiled Poles started arriving in the region. By 1864, the Sukhum parish numbered 2,759 members.
After the establishment of Soviet rule, Catholics in Abkhazia faced persecution and many were repressed. Today, the community consists of about 150 people.
As part of the event, the Asarkia TV studio presented a documentary film about the parishioners of the Catholic Church. The film shows how members of the community celebrate Christmas, engage in charitable activities and continue to maintain ecumenical ties.