Christianity is the predominant religion in the country of Georgia, with approximately 83.4% to 88% of the population identifying as Christian. Most belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the world’s most ancient Christian institutions, which has played a fundamental role in shaping the nation’s identity for nearly 1,700 years.
Core Branches and Demographics
- Georgian Orthodox Church (approx. 83.4%): An autocephalous (self-governing) Eastern Orthodox church headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, currently Ilia II.
- Armenian Apostolic Church (2.9%): Represents the largest Christian minority, primarily composed of ethnic Armenians living in Tbilisi and the southern Javakheti region.
- Catholicism (approx. 0.5% – 0.8%): Includes followers of the Latin, Armenian, and a very small number of Byzantine rites. Most communities are located in southern Georgia and Tbilisi.
- Protestantism (<1%): Includes small communities of Baptists (the most successful Protestant group), Lutherans of German descent, and Pentecostals.
Historical Milestones
- Apostolic Origins: Tradition traces the faith back to the 1st century, specifically the missions of Apostles Andrew and Simon the Zealot.
- State Adoption (326/337 AD): Georgia was among the first nations to adopt Christianity as its state religion. This is credited to St. Nino of Cappadocia, who converted King Mirian III of Iberia.
- Russian Imperial Era (1811–1917): The Russian Empire abolished the autocephaly of the Georgian Church, subordinating it to the Russian Orthodox Church until it was restored in 1917.
- Soviet Suppression: Under Soviet rule, religious practice was heavily restricted; the number of active churches dropped from over 2,400 in 1917 to only about 80 by the mid-1980s.
- Modern Revival: Since independence in 1991, the Church has seen a massive resurgence. The Concordat of 2002 (Constitutional Agreement) recognizes its special historical role and grants it privileged status in tax and consultative matters.
Links for further overview of Georgia:
Stichting HEALING THE NATIONS 