State flag of Georgia

The «five-cross flag»: a large St George's cross with four smaller Bolnisi crosses. Revived and adopted as the state flag in 2004.

2004

The flag of Georgia is a white field with a large red St George's cross dividing it into four, and four smaller red «Bolnisi» crosses, one in each quarter. Five crosses in all — hence the name «five-cross flag».

The motif goes back to the banners of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia; in the 20th century it was used by national movements. After the Rose Revolution the flag was officially adopted on 14 January 2004, replacing the maroon-black-white flag of the First Republic.

The Bolnisi cross, with its flaring arms, is one of Georgia's oldest Christian symbols, known from the reliefs of the Bolnisi Sioni (5th century).