Dr. Neha Deopa

I'm an assistant professor at the University of Exeter in the economics department.

So Georgia is, let's say, one of the post-Soviet countries, and it has a very typical trait of the other post-Soviet countries, which is extremely low fertility rates.

There was a concern both by the government and the church that the demographic landscape of Georgia looks like is going through a fertility crisis.

So he is a very popular guy.

And his opinion, like he was rated the most trusted man in the country.

The most trusted man in the country.

With a rating of 94%.

Would you compare him to like, is he like Elvis?

I can't think of anyone who at some point had such high approval ratings.

So in December 2007, Ilya II announces this new plan saying he would personally baptize any third or higher born child within marriage to Georgian Orthodox women.

When he made this announcement, he said that not only will he personally baptize, but he also said he would become their godfather.

Oh, yeah.

Then he's the godfather of that kid forever, I guess, right?

Yes, exactly.

I'm sure for someone who is not religious or just from an outside perspective might seem like, oh, it's just going to be a godfather in the name of it.

Of course, it's not.

Yeah, exactly.

So he's not going to be visiting you on every birthday of your child.

But it's a matter of honor and respect for a family to have that.

So what we find is that people want to start having kids so they can make use of this program.