Tbilisi, October 24, 2023
Photo: patriarchate.ge
Another mass Baptism was held in Tbilisi on Sunday, with more than 800 children becoming new Godchildren of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II.
The Patriarch has been guiding the Church for more than 40 years and is the most trusted man in the entire nation. In an effort to improve Georgia’s dire post-Soviet demographic situation, the Church began holding mass Baptisms in January 2008, with the beloved primate personally becoming Godfather to the third and subsequent children of spouses who were married in the Church.
Photo: sazu.ge
The service celebrated at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Sunday is the 68th such mass Baptism service. This time, 843 children were baptized and placed under the Patriarch’s spiritual care, reports the Georgian Church’s Public Relations Service.
His Holiness blessed his new Godchildren, saying:
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. May God bless those baptized today; may God bless their parents and family members. May the Lord’s mercy be upon you, with His grace and love for mankind, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Photo: patriarchate.ge
Pat. Ilia is now Godfather to more than 47,000 Georgian children.
The previous mass Baptism was held in June of this year. More than 1,300 children were baptized at that time.
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