Two years after having one of the lowest birth rates in theworld, Georgia is enjoying something of a baby boom, following anintervention from the country’s most senior cleric.
Atthe end of 2007, in a move to reverse the Caucasian country’s dwindlingbirth figures, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch IliaII, came up with an incentive. He promised to personally baptise anybaby born to parents of more than two children.
There was only one catch: the baby had to be born after the initiative was launched.
The results are, in the words of the Georgian Orthodox Church, “a miracle”.
Easy decision
The country’s birth rate increased by nearly 20% during 2008 – a rate four times faster than the previous year.
Many parents say they took the decision to have another child on the basis of the Patriarch’s incentive.
Giorgiand Pati Bluashvili have just had their fourth child. He is a boycalled Giviko. He has big blue eyes and a loud laugh. As I try tointerview his mother he takes delight at interrupting by babbling away.
Pati says the decision to have another child was an easy one.
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On a Thursday afternoon, dozens of parents are queuing up outside aregistry office in central Tbilisi to put their child’s name down forthe Patriarchal mass baptism. The ceremonies take place four times ayear.
Scribbling down the name of her three-month-oldboy, Nino – a young mother – says it is an honour to be contributing tothe task of boosting birth rates.
“The Patriarch did a really good thing launching this initiative,” she says.