“No Animal Sacrifice” Rally to Be Held in Tbilisi

A rally will be held today at 7pm at the old building of Parliament in Tbilisi to protest animal sacrifice and ritual killings which are common in Georgia, especially during the Lomisoba celebration, this year to be marked on May 30.

“On this day, animal sacrifice happens. It is antichristian, and a cruel and horrible ritual," the rally organizers claim. "This bloody ritual has a negative effect on people. It makes them more aggressive and violent. The civilized world doesn't need ritual killings."

The organizers add they have sent a petition with thousands of signatures to the government with the request legislation be put into effect to ban animal sacrifice in Georgia.

“We demand Parliament ban animal sacrifice at the legislative level and we demand the Patriarchate of Georgia to use their authority to stop this cruelty,’ the statement reads.

Every year, on the first Wednesday after Pentecost, Christians from almost every corner of Georgia gather near Mleta village, East Georgia, to pay respect to Lomisi Saint George in a church that was built in the 13th century.

On this day, numerous people walk up the mountain wearing an 8kg chain around their necks to pray to St. George. Georgian feasts are then held in the vicinity of the church and include the medieval pagan tradition of sheep slaughtering. Such acts of slaughter are actually disapproved of by the Georgian Orthodox Church, but people still practice the ritual, believing that St. George will help their families after they have made a sacrifice.

Along with barbequed lamb, the festival participants also consume a lot of wine. The event is attended by entire families, including small children. 

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: occupyforanimals.net