Document Type
Article
Abstract
This article examines the role of religion in the Republic of Georgia, emphasizing the historical and contemporary influence of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) on the nation’s identity, politics, and society. Drawing on multiple sources, including the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Georgia, the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, and works by Giuli Alasania, Ramaz Shengelia, Lika Kobeshavidze, and Stephen R. Hussar, this study analyzes the religious demographics of Georgia and the relationship between church and state. The findings reveal that Orthodox Christianity remains dominant, with 83% of the population identifying with the GOC, while minority religions such as Islam and the Armenian Apostolic Church face challenges related to inequality and recognition. The article highlights how religion has shaped Georgia’s cultural and political development since the early adoption of Christianity in the fourth century to modern debates about religious freedom and state neutrality. Ultimately, this research explores the nature of religion in Georgia as both a unifying force of national identity as well as a source of tension regarding religious practices, tolerance, and the separation of church and state.
Recommended Citation
Lilyea, Emma L. and Lorenz, Alexander
(2025)
"Religion in the Republic of Georgia,"
University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal: Vol. 19, Article 2.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/uscusrj/vol19/iss1/2
Included in
Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Eastern European Studies Commons, Global Studies Commons, History of Religion Commons, Other Religion Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Commons