Georgia is a country in the Caucasus; an important location, it is the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The area has been contested for by the ancient Persian and Roman Empires and in modern days, by the former USSR.
Georgia first heard the Gospel in the first century from the Apostle Andrew. Upon this apostolic account, the Georgian Orthodox Church is founded.
God’s timing is perfect.
Around the year 300 AD, a young Roman woman, remembered as Saint Nino, came to Georgia. A believer, she led key individuals to the Lord, and they too became known as Christians. This included King Mirian III, who founded the Chosroid dynasty. A royal family, they were descendants of Iranian Mihranids (Persians).
God can use just a few obedient persons as His witnesses to alter a nation for good. He can use women as well as men to lead others to the knowledge of Christ. “For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)
It is important that government leaders are true believers. Those who are not may be put in place by God to become godly leaders. Brave men and women who will give a true account of Jesus to political figures are necessary to lead them to the Truth.
Archeological evidence demonstrates that Christians lived in Georgia during the 3rd Century.
The ancient city of Mtskheta is a holy city to the Georgian Orthodox Church; it is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Georgia. In 337 AD, it was in the nation’s capital of Mtskheta that Christianity was declared the official religion of Georgia. The city today remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church. UNESCO
The Chosroid dynasty sat squarely at the crossroads of the East (Persian Empire) and the West (Roman Empire) which went to war with one another. The Georgian king was a vassal of the Persians, but his faith was that of the Christians in Rome.
Persian influence spread Zoroastrianism, but the Georgian Church stood against it.
Zoroastrianism is no friend of Christianity.
About 400 AD the Georgian alphabet was created to bring the written Gospel to Georgians. The first reference comes from an inscription on a church in Israel/Palestine.
Literacy is important for the spread of the Truth of Jesus.
Known as Asomtavruli, the oldest Georgian alphabet was based upon the Greek Gospel and birthed by King Parnavaz (Ministry of Education, Georgia). This written script united the Georgians in language, giving it dominance over any other tongue spoken. (Chkhartishvili, Mariam. 2021. Narrative Sources on the Creation of Georgian Alphabet PRO GEORGIA.JOURNAL OF KARTVELOLOGICAL STUDIES. .No 31 — 2021,pp.. 101 -113 ISSN 1230-1604. 31. 101 -113.)
The creation of the written Georgian language was a work of God for His people, the church.
The Georgian letter called “jani” looks like the letter “X” in English. The Georgian word ჯვარი or “cross” begins with “jani” (X).
Jesus is described as “The Word” by John in the Gospel. Words are formed from letters. Jesus stated, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” These are Greek letters.
Jesus also said, “I am the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the “tav.” It too in its first form is the shape of the cross. (Theopolis Institute) In the book of Ezekiel, all those marked with the “sign” or the “tav” would be saved from destruction. (Ezekiel 9:4)
All true Georgian believers are spiritually marked with the sign of the cross or “jani” which is a reminder to them everyday in the usage of their alphabet.
Asomtavruli is still utilized by the Georgian Orthodox Church in religious texts and ceremonies. It is a holy alphabet, a Christian language, as are its descendants, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli.
The unique Georgian language is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity.
The Georgian tongue is an early church language. The Georgian people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church.
By 500 AD, pilgrims were already making the trek from Georgia to the Holy Land to see where the Lord was born in Bethlehem and where He grew up in Nazareth. Their presence was notable as well in Jerusalem.
In 1226 AD, the Mongol Sultan Jalal al-Din captured the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. It was a city of Christians. Those who would not give up Jesus were put to death. Thousands became martyrs.
In 1624, Queen Consort Ketevan of Georgia was tortured and executed in Iran because she would not give up Jesus.
Islam is no friend of Christianity.
The Georgian Orthodox Church has withstood 2,000 years of the world and its ways. It endured 70 years of Soviet communism, governing control and purges. Churches were closed. Monks were imprisoned and executed. Persecution by the Soviets aimed to banish the Church and promote atheism.
Atheism and Communism are no friends of Christianity.
After that time, the Church rose again, to establish itself as the “custodian” of Georgian nationalism. The Georgian people trust their Church because it has been stable throughout history.
Today, Georgian Orthodox Church leadership stands against immorality, specifically coming from Western allies.
“…one leading Georgian cleric, Metropolitan of Vani and Baghdati Diocese Anton Bulukhia, publicly rebuked the U.S. and EU embassies in Tbilisi and said he was closing a European club in his diocese. ‘You want to force your profligate, obscene and depraved ideals’ on Georgia, he said on July 11. (Archil Gegeshidze and Mikheil Mirziashvili, The Orthodox Church in Georgia’s Changing Society, July 23, 2021, Carnegie Endowment Org.)
Immorality is no friend of Christianity.
Generations of men, like the grass of the field, come and then fade quickly. But the Church must stand. To stand, unity is necessary. The Lord prayed for this unity. In fact, He gave up His life, that the church would be one body, each part covered with His shed blood.
Jesus prayed, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stood together both with the Lord and with the Georgian people, even at the point of martyrdom for 2,000 years. They have survived and will continue to do so. This branch of the church is an inspiration for others, “that the world may believe” that Jesus was sent by God the Father.
What has held the Georgian Orthodox Church together? The Lord Himself. He has prayed that the church would be united. (John 17) His Gospel, His Word, the Name of Jesus is the power of God to stand firm.
Paul equated the ability to “stand firm” to a phalanx—a military unit of eight men across and eight men deep with shields overlapping one another, armed with spears. Together, holding the shield of faith, they hold their place and their faith. (Ephesians 6:13)
The phalanx is armed with prayer, calling upon the power of God. It moves forward in offense and can also maintain a defense against every fiery dart of the enemy.
They are as the church praying to God for the release of Peter from the prison. (Acts 12:5)
All branches of the church—Orthodox, Catholic, Protestants, Oriental and the Church of the East, must stand together peacefully with the Georgian Orthodox Church against immorality which is indeed consuming the world. (Romans 1:24) It should not consume the church as well. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
All branches of the church should be speaking out against immorality. (Colossians 3:5)
When the Lord returns, He will find His bride spotless. To be clean of sin is to be free of immorality. The bride must make herself and keep herself ready. (Rev 19:7)
To honor the Lord and the witness of the Georgian Orthodox Church for Jesus among the Persians, Mongols, Muslims and Communists for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Georgian მე ვარ , meaning “I AM” from John 18:5 into this artwork titled “I AM.”
Listen to the Lord’s prayer in Georgian: