Грузия
Religion
The majority of Georgia's population (84%) adheres to Orthodox Christianity and belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Islam is practiced by Georgians in Adjara and Meskhet-Javakheti, some Abkhazians, Azerbaijanis, and Kists—accounting for 9.9% of the population. The Armenian Gregorian Church (practiced by Armenians) constitutes 3.9%, Catholicism (practiced by a small portion of Georgians and Armenians) accounts for 1.2%, and Judaism (practiced by Georgian Jews) makes up approximately 0.8% (40,000 people). Representatives of other religions are insignificant in number.In Georgian historical tradition, it is believed that the first Jews arrived in Georgia following the conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE. According to Leonid Eichos, the Jewish community did not face persecution or restrictions on religious or ethnic rights from Georgians. In September 1998, Georgia celebrated 2,600 years of coexistence between the Georgian and Jewish peoples. Georgian Jews primarily speak the Georgian language and use the Georgian script for writing.
The spread of Islam in Georgia began in the 8th century after the Arab conquest of the region. Despite military and political conflicts with neighboring states, religious discrimination is uncharacteristic of Georgia. For millennia, various religious denominations have peacefully coexisted within the country's borders.
In Georgia, the beginning of Christian preaching has long been associated with the names of Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Zealot. In 327 CE, under King Mirian III, Christianity became the state religion of Iberia. The conversion to the new faith is traditionally linked to Saint Nino.
 Page from the Bible, 1030 CE Resurrection of Lazarus |
 Chapel and blackberry bush where Saint Nino prayed (4th century). |
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 Tbilisi Synagogue (1895–1903) |
 Tbilisi Mosque |
Georgia has long been distinguished by its religious tolerance. Tbilisi is one of the few cities in the world (alongside Sarajevo and Paramaribo) where a church, synagogue, and mosque are located within 500 meters of each other.