When did Georgians adopt Christianity, and did they ever change faith?
The conversion of Kartli in the 4th century and centuries of foreign rule.
Short answer
Christianity became the state religion of the Georgian kingdom of Kartli in the first half of the 4th century, usually dated to 326 or 337, when St Nino converted King Mirian III. As a people, Georgians never changed their faith, despite centuries under Persian, Arab and Ottoman rule. Some people in certain regions, such as Adjara, converted to Islam during the Ottoman period.
Why
- Georgia was one of the first countries to adopt Christianity as a state religion.
- The Georgian Church became autocephalous, meaning independent, in the 5th century.
- Orthodoxy remained the foundation of Georgian identity through periods of foreign rule.
Details
According to tradition, the Apostle Andrew preached in Georgia as early as the 1st century. Today most people in the country are Orthodox, while Muslims also live in Adjara and Kvemo Kartli.
People also ask
- When did Georgia become Christian?
Sources
Conversion dates follow the most widely accepted historians' versions.
St NinoRelated questions
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Where is Sioni Cathedral, and what is it known for?
The main Sioni Cathedral stands in Old Tbilisi on Sioni Street near the Kura embankment and is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin.
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Where are the relics of St Nino in Georgia?
St Nino is buried at Bodbe Monastery in Kakheti, about 2 kilometres from Sighnaghi; her tomb is inside the monastery church.
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What is the Georgian cross, and who converted Georgia to Christianity?
Georgia was converted by St Nino, a preacher from Cappadocia, who brought King Mirian III to Christianity in the 4th century.
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What is the religion of Georgia?
Most people in Georgia are Orthodox Christians of the Georgian Orthodox Church, about 83 percent according to the 2014 census.