May the Lord grant us grace to have legislation that will protect the family and our people from harmful gender theories and ideology. We should not reject this legislation, as some are calling us to do,” said the Patriarch of Georgia, Shio III, addressing the faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

According to the Patriarch, the direction of protecting and preserving the family “must be strengthened and reinforced,” and this is a precondition for the survival and growth of our country.

Shio III also spoke about the demographic situation and noted that if we do not take care of “strengthening, preserving, and safeguarding the family,” there is a real danger that in our “paradise-like beautiful country,” other peoples may outnumber Georgians.

“If we do not improve our demographic situation, if we do not take care of strengthening, saving, and preserving the family, we face a real danger that in our beautiful, paradise-like country other peoples will settle alongside us - people who love children, who do not avoid having children, who protect their religion, and therefore multiply well. God forbid this, of course, but if we continue like this, there is a real danger that they may outnumber Georgians.

May the Lord grant us grace to work and strive for the survival of the family, for the protection of family values, to have legislation that will protect the family and our people from harmful gender theories and ideology. We should not reject such legislation, as some are calling us to do; on the contrary, we should strengthen and reinforce this direction of protecting and preserving the family. This is a precondition for the survival and growth of our country, as well as for God’s mercy,” the Patriarch said.