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Georgian Orthodox Church

Flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church - Image by Tomislav Todorović, 16 March 2013

Flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church

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Flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church

The flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church (photo, photo, photo) is white, in proportions 1:2, with a red St. Nino's cross fimbriated in white and blue. The shade of red is darker than that of the national flag.

Tomislav Todorović, 16 March 2013

St. Nino (c. 300 - c. 332) is nicknamed "The Enlightener of Georgia". One of the most venerated saints of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Nino is said to have been a relative of St. George; she converted different rulers so that King Mirian III (c. 284 - c. 361) of Iberia (today's Kartli) adopted Christianity as the official religion c. 327.
The St. Nino's cross (presentation, no longer online), also known as the Grapevine cross, is the main symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The legend says that Nino received it from the Blessed Virgin (or made it herself with two grapevine branches entwined with her own hair). During Persian and Turkish invasions, the holy cross was hidden in Armenia, in the Georgian mountains, and, eventually in Moscow. Upon request of Prince George Bagration, Tsar Alexander I returned the cross to Georgia in 1802. Since then, the cross has been preserved in the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi.

Ivan Sache, 2 June 2012