On October 22, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia led a mass baptism ceremony, as reported by the Georgian Patriarchate's website. On this day, 800 infants were baptized at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.
"May the Lord bless those who are baptized today. May the Lord bless their parents and family members. May the mercy of the Lord be with you and His grace and love, now and forever and ever," wished the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church to the children.
Patriarch Ilia started 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's goal is to improve the country's demographic situation. The ceremony is open to the third and subsequent children born to married parents, as specified on the Georgian Church's website.

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What Should We Remember?
Olga Kutanina
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