PATRIARCH OF GEORGIA BAPTIZES 700 GODCHILDREN IN MASS CEREMONY CELEBRATING ORTHODOX FAITH

The Patriarch of Georgia gained 700 more godchildren at a mass baptism ceremony, continuing a tradition that has encouraged thousands of Georgian families to embrace Orthodox Christian faith and raise children in the Church.

Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia has served as godfather to thousands of children since launching the initiative to address Georgia's demographic crisis and promote Christian family life in the former Soviet republic.

The Georgian Orthodox Church patriarch began the program offering to personally serve as godfather for third and subsequent children born to families, providing spiritual encouragement and material support to parents willing to have larger families.

The initiative has been credited with contributing to population growth in Georgia, where birth rates had declined dramatically following the collapse of the Soviet Union and economic hardships that discouraged families from having multiple children.

Mass baptism ceremonies with the patriarch have become significant cultural and religious events in Georgia, where Orthodox Christianity is deeply intertwined with national identity after centuries of preserving faith despite foreign occupation and Soviet atheism.

Georgia has one of the highest rates of religious participation in the former Soviet space, with the Georgian Orthodox Church playing central role in national life, politics, and cultural preservation following independence in 1991.

The patriarch's personal involvement in baptizing children reinforces the importance of Christian initiation and demonstrates church leadership's commitment to reversing demographic decline through faith based family encouragement.

Critics note that linking church support to birth order could pressure families or reduce baptism to demographic policy rather than spiritual sacrament, though supporters emphasize the genuine spiritual renewal occurring alongside population growth.

The tradition reflects Orthodox Christian emphasis on communal faith expression and the role of godparents in spiritual formation, with the patriarch symbolically serving as spiritual father to thousands of Georgian children.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

This is what happens when church leaders care more about souls and demographic survival than institutional maintenance.

Patriarch Ilia II did not commission a study on declining birth rates.

He did not hold a conference on demographic crisis.

He became godfather to thousands of children and encouraged Georgian families to have more babies.

That is leadership.

Western churches worry about declining attendance and aging congregations while doing nothing to encourage Christian families to have children.

The Georgian Orthodox Church baptizes 700 children at once.

One approach produces death.

The other produces life.

Secularists will criticize this as pressuring families or reducing baptism to population policy.

Those critics support abortion, contraceptive culture, and choosing careers over children.

They have no moral authority to lecture Christians about family decisions.

Georgia faced demographic collapse after Soviet atheism destroyed faith and family.

The Church responded by celebrating children as blessings instead of burdens.

Birth rates increased.

Christianity strengthened.

The nation survived.

That is what churches are supposed to do.

Build the next generation instead of managing decline.

TAKE ACTION

1. Celebrate large Christian families in your church by honoring parents who embrace children as blessings. Create support networks, meal trains, and practical assistance for families with multiple children rather than treating large families as unusual or burdensome.
2. Support pro natalist Christian initiatives encouraging believers to have children and raise them in faith. Contact organizations like Focus on the Family at focusonthefamily.com or +1 (800) 232-6459 for resources promoting biblical view of children and family.
3. Pray for demographic renewal in Western nations where birth rates have collapsed below replacement levels. Pray for cultural shift from viewing children as obstacles to careers toward embracing parenthood as calling and blessing from God.
4. Challenge contraceptive culture within churches that have adopted secular attitudes toward family planning. Teach biblical theology of marriage, procreation, and children as heritage from the Lord rather than accommodating culture's rejection of fertility.
5. Support Georgian Orthodox Church ministries serving families and preserving Christian faith in former Soviet territories. Donate to International Orthodox Christian Charities at iocc.org or +1 (877) 803-4622 for programs strengthening Orthodox witness.
6. Become involved in your godchildren's spiritual formation if you serve as godparent. Take seriously the responsibility to mentor children in Christian faith, pray for them regularly, and support parents in raising disciples rather than treating godparent role as honorary title.