Flag of Georgia

Meaning and history of the flag of Georgia

Georgia's flag, known as the Five Cross Flag, was restored as a national symbol on January 14, 2004, following the Rose Revolution. It features a white field with a large red St. George's cross dividing it into four quadrants, each bearing a small red Bolnisi cross, a cruciform design typical of Georgia dating to the fifth century.

The central St. George's cross links Georgia to other places that venerate the saint, such as England and Northern Ireland. The four smaller Bolnisi crosses reinforce Georgia's deeply Christian character -- it was among the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion, in the year 337. White symbolizes purity and innocence, while red represents courage and bravery.

The design has medieval roots and is associated with the flag used during the reign of Queen Tamar and the Bagrationi dynasty in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Georgia's golden age. The flag fell out of use during the Soviet era and was temporarily replaced by other designs after independence in 1991, until its definitive restoration in 2004. It is one of the oldest flag designs still in use among today's nations.

You can view the flag of Georgia in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Georgia profile, its map, or the current local time in Tbilisi.