The Symbols of Ancient Georgia in Modern Time

Saint George, Cross of Saint George

Saint George’s Day (Giorgoba) is celebrated on November 23 each year, commemorating the torture of Great Martyr George during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. As one of Georgia’s patron saints (and according to local belief, a cousin of Saint Nino, his feast is celebrated with vigour, coming as it does a week before the Nativity Fast begins. When Christianity was adopted by the Georgian state, many of the new churches built were dedicated to Saint George: Alaverdi, Sameba, Bodbe...

The Symbols of Democratic Georgia

To date, the Georgian flag emblazons the five crosses with one central red-colored cross dividing the white background into four distinct quadrants each holding one of the four smaller versions of the red crosses. The four additional smaller crosses might have been added during the reign of George V who was known to be the brilliant and the splendid king who drove out the Mongols from Georgia. The concept of the Georgian flag is perhaps one of the few that is greatly intertwined with the country’s principal religion.