Georgia: the country. It is the second-oldest Christian nation in the world, after Armenia. Georgians call their country Sakartvelo, not Georgia. The Western name for the country is thought to have come from the people’s love of Saint George.
Georgia has good soil and climate, producing fruit, tea, cotton, and wine. It is thought to be the birthplace of wine. It is known for beautiful landscapes, caves, and Medieval churches.
It has a widely diverse climate, ranging from alpine to sub-tropical to semi-desert. This includes Europe’s highest elevated city, Ushguli, at 6,900 feet above sea level. The capital and largest city is Tbilisi, which means “warm”. It was founded in the 5th century AD. The city is built in the Mtkvari River valley, which makes for a picturesque view of architecture on the hills leading into the valley.
The country was part of the USSR until its fall in 1991. The country was plagued with corruption and run by a dictator, until the Rose Revolution in 2003, in which the protestors stormed the parliament session with red roses in hand. Since then, there has been progress towards democracy.
The Georgian Orthodox church dates back to AD 150. Since the fall of Communism, many have returned to the church of their ancestors. For most Georgians, it is an expression of nationalism and cultural identity. Christians make up 79% of the population, with 99% of Christians being Orthodox. The Protestant church has been suppressed by some Orthodox groups. Changes to laws in 2005 have brought some freedom. Please pray for respect and understanding between denominations.
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