Georgian religion and how to dress in churches

Georgian religion

Christianity is one of the cornerstones of Georgian culture, and more than 80% of the population are Orthodox Christians. Still the other world religions of Judaism and Islam are also present. In the old town of Tbilisi one can experience the religious diversity with synagogues, mosques and churches are almost side by side.

You can find churches and monasteries everywhere, very often on mountains and other beautiful places, even in the most remote regions of Georgia. Saint George seems to be omnipresent. The famous saint, often depicted as a dragonslayer, seems to be the patron saint of most churches and chapels. 

Another famous saint in Georgian religious history is Saint Nino. She is said to have taken one of the most important steps towards the Christianization of the country by persuading King Mirian III to adopt Christianity as the official religion. The symbol of Saint Nino is a special cross, around which she is said to have wrapped vine branches and strands of her own hair.

To see an example of a reproduction of Saint Nino's cross, go to the section “Nature & Adventure > Paravani Lake > St. Nino’s Church”.

Dress code for a church visit:
Whenever you visit a church or a monastery, you should absolutely follow the dress code: women should cover their legs to their knees and put on a headscarf. Men, on the other hand, should not cover their head and wear long trousers and at least a T-shirt. Scarfs or cloths to cover head, shoulders and legs can often be borrowed at church entrances.

Picture credits: beyondarts GmbH

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.