1200 Children Baptized as Godchildren of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II Through 69th Universal Baptism
OCP News Service – 16/07/2024
Tbilisi -Georgia: On July 14th, 2024, 1,200 children were added as Godchildren of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II during the 69th universal baptism held at Holy Trinity Cathedral. This massive ceremony increased the total number of the Catholicos-Patriarch’s Godchildren to over 48,000.
The Patriarch, a beloved and trusted figure who has guided the Church for more than 40 years, initiated mass baptisms in January 2008. This tradition aims to support Georgia’s demographic situation after the Soviet era. The Patriarch personally becomes Godfather to the third and subsequent children of couples married in the Church.
Previous Universal Baptisms:
- 67th Universal Baptism: More than 1,300 children were added as Godchildren of His Holiness Ilia II.
- 68th Universal Baptism: Over 800 children were added as Godchildren of His Holiness Ilia II.
Physical Absence of Patriarch Ilia II:
While Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II was not physically present at this recent universal baptism, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of the Patriarchal Throne, Senaki and Chkhorotsku, led the ceremony in his name.
Source
OCP News Service
