Tbilisi, September 22, 2017
Photo: patriarchate.ge On September 21, the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Holiness Patriarch-Catholics Ilia II of Georgia celebrated his 50th mass Baptism, reports the site of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
His Holiness again became Godfather to more than 600 newly-baptized children during the service held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. The patriarch now has more than 33,000 Godchildren.
Photo: patriarchate.ge The 49th mass Baptism was celebrated on July 13, the feast of the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles, known as “Svetitskhovloba,” which is a greatly loved feast in Georgia. It is celebrated twice a year on July 13 and October 14. The October feast has been declared a national holiday.
Photo: patriarchate.ge With the first mass Baptism on January 19, 2008, Patriarch Ilia commenced his initiative to help improve the dire demographic situation in Georgia caused by post-Soviet abortion rates. Such mass celebrations are held four times a year in which the primate personally baptizes and becomes the godfather for the third and later children of married Orthodox couples.
