On December 27, the choir of Patriarch Ilia II's godchildren performed at the youth center of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia. The children delighted the audience with Christmas carols and festive songs.

Following the concert, the cathedral's rector, Archpriest Shalva (Kekelia), blessed the children, their parents, siblings, congratulating them on Christmas and the New Year, and shared insights into Christian teachings.

"Such meetings, with the blessing of His Holiness and the organization of the staff of the Department for Godchildren's Affairs of the Patriarchate, were regularly held before the pandemic and will be resumed next year. Their goal is to bring children closer to each other, introduce them to notable individuals, and engage in conversations on Christian topics," stated the announcement on the Georgian Patriarchate's website.

Patriarch Ilia initiated the tradition of Universal Baptism in 2008. Since then, 47,000 children have become godchildren of the Patriarch, and the ceremony has taken place for the sixty-eighth time. The initiative aims to improve the demographic situation in the country. Participation in the ceremony is open to third and subsequent children born to married parents.