On July 13, coinciding with the feast day of Svetitskhovloba, the 71st mass baptism ceremony was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi.

During the event, 1,000 children were baptised and became godchildren of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness Ilia II.

“I congratulate you on this blessed day. Today, 1,000 children were baptised. May God bless our children. May God bless all of Georgia,” declared Ilia II during the ceremony.

According to the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II now has close to 50,000 godchildren as part of the long-running initiative.