#Georgia #Sakartvelo – Large crowds of Christians took to the streets across Georgia on Sunday, May 17th, 2026, to mark the annual Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents, with newly enthroned Patriarch Shio III presiding over the observances for the first time.
Processions unfolded in at least ten cities, drawing thousands of participants who waved Georgian flags, carried religious icons, and marched under sunny skies. In the capital Tbilisi, the main procession began at St. George Church of Kashveti on Rustaveli Avenue and proceeded to Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where Patriarch Shio III led a festive liturgy and blessed the arriving faithful.
The event, introduced by the late Patriarch Ilia II in 2014, coincided with the “International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.” Church leaders positioned it as a defence of traditional family values in response to perceived Western influences. Ilia II originally established the day one year after clergy-led violence disrupted a small IDAHOBIT rally in Tbilisi in 2013.
Patriarch Shio III, elected on May 11 and enthroned on May 12 following Ilia II’s death, addressed the crowds after the procession reached Sameba Cathedral. He called for laws protecting families from “harmful gender ideologies,” warned of demographic threats from “other peoples” outnumbering Georgians, and spoke against abortion. Ruling Georgian Dream party officials, including Tsotne Ivanishvili, the youngest son of party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, joined the Tbilisi march.
The Georgian Orthodox Church organized similar prayer processions and services nationwide, emphasizing family sanctity and parental respect. Participants described the day as a continuation of Ilia II’s legacy in promoting traditional values amid ongoing cultural and demographic debates in the country.
While the events drew strong support from conservative and religious communities, some critics and queer advocacy groups noted the date’s origins in opposition to homosexual visibility and expressed concerns over the holiday’s framing. Supporters, however, highlighted it as a celebration of national and spiritual identity.
Family Purity Day has become a major annual fixture in Georgia, reflecting the influential role of the Orthodox Church in public life. This year’s observances marked a symbolic transition under new patriarchal leadership while reaffirming longstanding commitments to traditional family structures.
Image: The celebrations of Family Purity Day in Tbilisi, Georgia, on May 17th, 2026.
