(dramatic music)

- [George] This week onChristian World News,

journey with us to one of the oldest

Christian countries in the world.

- I come from a very ancient, perhaps one

of the most ancient,cultures in the world.

- [George] 6,000 milesfrom the shores of America,

the tiny nation of Georgia fights

to preserve its Christianpast, present, and future.

- Georgians have alwayshad to defend their faith,

even to the last drop of blood.

- And meet one ofGeorgia's most famous men

leading the charge toprotect faith in his nation.

(dramatic music)

Hello, everyone, welcometo this week's edition

of Christian World News.

I'm George Thomas.

One this special edition of the broadcast,

we focus on a part of the world

few people have ever heardof or know its location.

I traveled some 6,000 milesto the tiny nation of Georgia.

No, I am not talking thestate here in the U.S.

But an ancient landwhere culture, tradition,

and faith in Jesus Christ run deep.

(dramatic orchestral music)

It was famed novelist John Steinbeck

who while travelingthrough the Soviet Union

in 1947 referred to this landas a kind of second heaven.

And it's easy to see why.

Once part of the communist empire

and often called the "Rivieraof the Soviet Union,"

the Republic of Georgia nestles

between the CaucasusMountains and the Black Sea.

Turkey and Armenia flankits southern border.

Azerbaijan is to the east.

Russia to the north.

Levan Vasadze is a Georgian businessman.

- I come from a very ancient, perhaps one

of the most ancientcultures, in the world.

- [George] An ancient placewhere people speak a language

that's over 2,000 years old.

Ethnographer Luarsab Togonidzesaid his is a country

that has also witnessedits fair share of turmoil.

- Georgians go through a lot

because the geographical location,

many armies, invaders would pass this way.

- History here is measured in millennia,

not centuries.

And throughout the ages,

your country has been theplayground for numerous empires.

- The Ottomans, the Persians, the Greeks,

the Byzantine empire, the Romans,the Mongols, the Russians.

(traditional Georgian music)

- In the capital of Tbilisi,

the ancient and modern mix seamlessly

to create a beautiful portrait

of Georgia's rich culture and traditions.

One of the best ways to takein the sights and sounds

of Tbilisi is to take one ofthese trolleys up the mountain.

In filming these scenes of Tbilisi

and stunning countryside landscapes,

Georgian cameraman GiorgiShermazana said it best.

"Every time I travel in different regions

"of my country I feel like I am traveling

"through thousands of years of history."

Georgians are legendaryfor their hospitality.

They believe guests come from God

and as such are treated with honor.

Their food is simply out of this world.

For example, you have thisamazing dish is called

khinkali and the all-famous khachapuri.

Friendship is highlyvalued in this society

and family is paramount.

(choir singing)

But if there is one thingmany Georgians cherish most,

it is their faith.

Vasadze says Christianity above all

else has protected andpreserved his nation.

- The reason Georgia remained what it is

because our nation has a profound feeling

of responsibility to holdingon to the eternal features

of our national characterwhich by all means are rooted

in the Christian culture.

- [George] Georgia is one of the oldest

Christian countries in the world.

Its Christian heritage can be traced here

to the small town of Mtskheta.

It was around 326 ADwhen a woman evangelist

named Nino startedpreaching the gospel here.

- Where these two main rivers meet,

two main rivers of Georgia,

there was a big baptism and is considered

to be Second Jerusalem forGeorgians, it's a holy place.

- Christianity spread tothe rest of the country

and in about 10 yearsbecame the state religion.

Five crosses, symbolizingChristianity's influence,

adorn the Georgian national flag.

Dating back to the 4th century,

the Church has played asignificant role in the society.

In fact, about 80% of Georgians say

they belong to the Orthodox Church.

- [Translator] Georgians have always had

to defend their faith, evento the last drop of blood.

- [George] Ioane Gamrekeliis a prominent leader

in the Georgian Orthodox Church.

He says over the centuries,many Christians became martyrs

for refusing to renounce their faith.

In 1226 alone, Muslim invaders beheaded

more than 100,000 Georgian Christians.

- [Translator] There'vebeen numerous attempts

by invading armies to forceus to give up our faith,

but we never backed down.

- [George] Elene Kavlelashvili is curator

at Georgia's National Museum.

She has in her collectionpriceless manuscripts,

rare Bibles, and otherhistorical artifacts

documenting Georgia's Christian heritage.

- [Translator] Today, therole of Christianity is even

more significant as weface new challenges.

- [George] Kavlelashvilibelieves her country

today stands at a crossroads.

With the countries ofCentral Asia, Russia, Europe,

and the Middle East all vying for cultural

and religious influence,she says tiny Georgia

must once again standto protect her heritage.

- [Translator] I hope Georgia's example

of unconditional love and dedication

to faith are a testimony to all mankind.

People should realize that the absence

of faith is disastrous for a nation.

Christianity is how wesurvived in the past

and its how we will survive in the future.

- Up next as our specialcoverage from Georgia continues,

a closer look at how moderninfluences are challenging

this nation's deep religious values.

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- And welcome back to the broadcast.

The Republic of Georgiais one of the oldest

Christian countries in the world.

For centuries, numerous empires have tried

to eliminate Christianity there.

Now Georgia faces a new challenge

to its values and its faith.

This time from theUnited States and Europe.

25 years after the collapseof the Soviet Union,

Georgia's prime minister says forging ties

with the West is in hiscountry's best interest.

- There is a very clearwill of Georgian people

in population to bepro-Western to be pro-European.

The tiny nation of Georgialies between Russia and Turkey.

While the majority here favor closer ties.

- We are not saying we are against West.

I always say I'm a big enthusiast

of selective Westernization of Georgia.

- [George] Many like LevanVasadze insist the opening

must not happen at the expense

of Georgia's faith and family values.

- We'll take all the productive,

progressive things from you

but we'll throw out all thegarbage, all the nonsense.

And unfortunately, inthis particular case,

this means your currentpseudo-moral standards need

to stay outside of Georgia.

- [George] Vasadze is aprominent Georgian businessman

and pro-family advocate.

The pseudo-moral standardshe refers to are efforts

by the U.S. and E.U. to force Georgia

into accepting homosexual practices

and same-sex marriage as societal norms.

- If you think indecent,radically sexual behavior is what

you want to do, that's your choice.

But if I think that thisis an embarrassing sin,

I want to remain a societywhich is allowed to say that.

- Much to his dismay,the Georgian parliament,

under pressure from the European Union

and with help frominternational pro-gay groups,

passed a controversial lawin 2014 making it illegal

to discriminate against people

on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Vasadze says the decision amounted

to the legalization ofhomosexuality in Georgia.

You say this law is partof an international agenda.

What is that agenda?

- To destroy a family.

I believe the frontline of that war is

in every living room and in every bedroom

where your wife and my wifeand our children sleep.

- [George] The frontline is now spreading

to Georgian classrooms,with children as young

as eight being taught gender theory.

- To somehow alter and change--

- [George] Tinatin Khorbaladze is director

of a pro-family organization.

She says the aim is simple, yet alarming.

- To change the thinking of the children

to be open and to accept the things

that still my generationand the elder generation

consider to be no really acceptable.

- [George] Georgia is deeply conservative.

More than 80% of the population here say

they belong to the Orthodox Church.

And polls show a majorityside with the Church

in opposing anything other

than traditionalheterosexual relationships.

- We feel the responsibilityfor the future of this country,

for the future of ourchildren and next generation.

- But not everyone agrees

with the Church's stance on marriage.

Some human rights groupshave labeled this country

one of the most homophobicnations in the world.

Are you afraid for your life?

- [Translator] As for me personally, yes,

because my life is in danger in Georgia

and not just because ofmy sexual orientation

but because of my professionalactivities as well.

- Giorgi Tatishvili is transgender.

He rarely gives interviewsbut agreed to meet

with CBN News at an undisclosedlocation in the capital.

He is a lawyer for the LGBT community

and says he has paid a price for it.

They've arrested you, they've beaten you?

- [Translator] Yes, many timesI was beaten by policemen,

ordinary citizens, and ingeneral, from many people.

- Tatishvili madeheadlines earlier this year

when he became the firstperson ever to file a suit

with the constitutional courtseeking same-sex marriage.

The lawsuit is still pending.

A majority of Georgians today believe

that what you're doing,your lifestyle is sinful

and they say that you aredestroying their country.

- [Translator] I thinkthat this is the case

and I'm not surprisedpeople feel this way.

The principles ofsecularism are practically

violated in Georgia.

The Orthodox Church puts so much pressure

on the society to make sure Georgian

human rights are not extendedto include LGBT people.

- [George] Meanwhile, LevanVasadze worries the pressure

to become more accepting of homosexuality

in Georgia will only intensify following

last year's controversialSupreme Court decision

legalizing same-sex marriage in America.

He bemoans the fact that since the ruling,

many in America are too afraid

to speak out against homosexuality.

- You can no longer freelyexpress your opinion

about what's shamefuland what is disgraceful

and you are crucified for that.

The whole concept ofsin is being abolished.

Where is it?

The metamorphosis in Englishlanguage is staggering.

I studied it since I was a child

and I remember that shame meant shame.

In modern English whensomeone says, "it's a shame"

he or she means, "it's a pity."

So we see a gutting ofthe concept of shame.

- Vasadze is praying Georgianever reaches that point.

He's urging his fellowcountrymen to be bold

in proclaiming the truth in love.

Is it your opinion thatthe Church in Georgia,

Christians in Georgia likeyourself, are in the end going

to determine the future of your country?

- What else?

Of course, that's it.

Nothing else.

- [George] As our specialcoverage continues,

meet the most trusted man in Georgia

who is fighting to keep faith alive.

(dramatic music)

- [Shawn] It's about the competition.

- I kinda put that pressure on myself

and I think people had expectations.

- [Shawn] It's about overcoming.

- We use this phrase allthe time, keep chopping,

keep practicing hard.

- [Shawn] It's about going the distance.

- I think as a father,it's my job to lead,

just be the best husbandand father I can be.

- [Shawn] Watch Going theDistance with Shawn Brown

Saturday night at 7:30on the CBN News Channel.

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(upbeat music)

- Young people, Millennials,are flocking to church.

We're all in this together,there's no pretenses.

- [Woman] It's not anexaggeration to say that we love

to meet them and that welove to know their stories.

- And welcome back to the broadcast.

Across Europe, churches areclosing as growing numbers

of Christians abandon the faith.

But in the nation of Georgia,the opposite is happening.

Thanks to the efforts of one man,

Christianity there is notonly alive, it's thriving.

(choir singing in foreign language)

On any given Sunday morning,you'll find most churches

in Georgia packed with the faithful.

And one of the first thingsa visitor will notice is that

there are no pews or chairsin most Georgian churches.

That's because, unliketypical church meetings,

Christians here standduring their services.

- We say that Orths are like candles

because they stand before God in churches.

It's uncomfortable to stand for two hours,

three hours in a row, but we choose to.

- [George] That was thecase during a service

at Holy Trinity Cathedral inGeorgia's capital of Tbilisi

as thousands stood listening

to their nation's most famous citizen.

His name, Ilia II, and heleads one of the oldest

Christian communities in the world.

- [Translator] The historyof the Georgian Church dates

back to the 1st centuryA.D. when the apostles

of Jesus Christ entered toGeorgia and preached the gospel.

- [George] At 83, thiselder statesman has been

affectionately dubbed themost trusted man in Georgia.

- [Translator] He's thespiritual father of Georgia

and a wonderful example of what it means

to be a humble servant of God.

(traditional Georgian music)

- You've probably never heard of him,

but here in Georgia andin surrounding countries,

Ilia II is more famous thanmovie stars and politicians.

Patriarch Ilia II is the most respected

figure in Georgian society.

In fact, his favorablepoll numbers are over 90%.

In an exclusive interview conducted

at his private residence,Ilia II, whose official

title is Patriarch of theGeorgian Orthodox Church

spoke with CBN News about hiscountry's deep love for God.

- [Translator] The Church'spast is intertwined

with the people and history of our nation.

In the 4th century A.D.,Christianity was officially

declared as the state religion.

- [George] That makesGeorgia one of the oldest

Christian countries in the world.

Tucked between the CaucasusMountains and the Black Sea,

more than 85% here say theybelong to the Orthodox Church.

And while many neighboring European

countries have seenreligious adherence fall,

Christianity in Georgia iswitnessing unprecedented growth.

- [Translator] We are likea little spiritual oasis

in the middle of this region.

- Patriarch Ilia II was installed

back on Christmas Day 1977and since then he has managed

to single-handedly revivethe Georgian Orthodox Church.

He took over at a timewhen Christianity was under

severe persecution fromthe Soviet government.

- [Translator] The Bolshevik invasion

in 1921 witnessed theunmerciful destruction

of churches andmonasteries across Georgia.

- [George] SergoVardosanidze is a professor

of Georgian history.

- [Translator] There were 1,500 churches

and 1,600 clergymen active in Georgia.

When the patriarch was installed,

there were only 50 churches andbarely 70 priests remaining.

- [George] He initiated a range of reforms

to rebuild the Church,

including an emphasis on young people.

- [Translator] Hereached out to the youth,

encouraging them to attend church

and to consider the priesthood.

He also took steps to make church services

more engaging and easier to listen to.

- [George] The Churchshowed signs of revival

in the late 1980s.

Men like Ioane Gamrekeli,impressed by the patriarch's

humility and dedication to service,

decided to join the priesthood.

- [Translator] The patriarchstretched out his hands

to the people and the people responded.

He preached God's Wordand people turned to God.

- [George] Then came theSoviet Union collapse

in the late '90s which ledto Christianity's renewal.

The changes have since been profound.

Now there are more than2,000 active churches

with new ones being built every year,

like this massive structure rising

on the outskirts of Tbilisi.

Also, more than 3,000 peoplehave joined the priesthood,

serving the spiritual needs of Georgia's

nearly 4 million people.

- [Translator] It has been said

that the patriarch inherited a church

that was severely persecutedand covered in shroud.

Now it is a living body.

- [George] Nearly threehours after arriving

for the service, a slowand frail Patriarch Ilia II

finally makes his way throughthe throngs of worshipers

that have gathered to hearhim speak this Sunday morning.

CBN News is granted unprecedented access

to film as hundreds ofmen, women, and children

lined the ornate hallsof Holy Trinity Cathedral

to receive a prayer or special blessing.

- [Translator] The Patriarch always says

that all that's been achieved during

his reign is because of the Lord's will.

- [George] After decadesof religious repression,

many are grateful that the church

in Georgia has not onlysurvived but is thriving,

thanks in part to one man's desire

to bring his nation closer to God.

- [Translator] Many kindachievements has been accomplished

and I thank God for letting me undertake

such endeavors for our nation.

(bell tolling)

- You can bring these stories from Georgia

to your friends and family.

Simply go to our CBN News web page

and share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Folks, we'll be back right after this.

(dramatic music)

- [Announcer] As the worldwatches from the outside.

- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.

- [Announcer] Go inside thestory with Jerusalem Dateline.

- Israeli archeologists aretaking about a discovery

that could change the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.

- [Announcer] Join CBNJerusalem Bureau Chief

Chris Mitchell and getthe biblical perspective

on the events shaping the world.

- What starts in Israel thenends up going to other places.

- [Announcer] Watch Jerusalem Dateline

Friday night at 9:30 onthe CBN News Channel.

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- Meet the pastors whoare preaching the gospel

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- Well, folks, that is itfor this special edition

of Christian World News.

As always, you can find moreof our exclusive coverage

of God at work aroundthe world at CBNnews.com.

Tell us what you think about the stories

you've seen here this week.

As always, you can reach out to us

via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

I hope you will send us your comments,

especially on this particular edition.

Folks, that is it, unfortunately,

for this week's editionof Christian World News.

From all of us here in the studio

as well as back in the control room,

have a fantastic weekend.

Always remember, God blessyou and God loves you.

Have a great week, guys.

(dramatic music)