USCCB - (AEE) - History for the Church of Georgia

History for the Church of Georgia

A.a., 1; parishes, 27; apb., 1; bp., 1; priests, 16 (3 dioc., 13 rel); sem., 12; srs., 29; bap, 64; Caths., 100,000 (1.9%); tot. pop., 5,240,000.

Independent (1991) state in the Caucasus; former Soviet republic; capital, Tbilisi. Christianity came to the area under Roman influences and, and according to tradition, was spread through the efforts of St. Nino (or Christiana) a maiden who was brought as a captive to the country and is venerated as its apostle. The apostolic administration of the Caucasus( with seat in Georgia) was established in December 1993 for Latin-rite Catholic of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Chaldean- and Armenian-rite Catholics also are present. Differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy often are blurred on a parish level. The Catholic Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church have been unable to secure the return of Churches closed during the Soviet period, many of which were later given to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Early in the 21st century, many denominations, including Catholics, reported attacks and harassment from Orthodox mobs.

(The above exert comes from Our Sunday Visitor's 2004 Catholic Almanac and is used on this web site with the publisher's permission.)