Vazha Kiknadze: Ilia Chavchavadze and the clergy of the 19th century [Tbilisi, 2007]

28.02

Ilia Chavchavadze and the 19^th century Georgian Clergy

Vazha Kiknadze

1. In the article some little known episodes of the great Georgian poet and thinker Ilia Chavchavadze's relationship with the bishops Gabriel (Kikodze), Kirion (Sadzaglishvili) and Petre (Konchoshvili) are examined.
2. For the first time, poetic works of clergyman Iona Brikhnichev created in Georgia at the end of the 19^th c. and related to Ilia Chavchavadze are presented and analyzed (in particular, vast poetic work devoted to Ilia havchavadze's tragic decease).
3. The text of Ilia Chavchavadze's letter - 1898 - addressed to the Head of Tbilisi Theological Seminary Seraphim is anew interpreted and specified. The letter was composed in Russian and is presented in five variants. Only once, in the 50'ies of the 20^th c., the letter was translated into Georgian, without giving parallel Russian text, therefore some its parts need more precise definition.
4. We draw a conclusion that Ilia Chavchavadze had private, business and friendly relationship with both Georgian and other clergy. At the same time, the presented material gives grounds for a conclusion that Ilia Chavchavadze made an important contribution to the fight for reestablishment of the Georgian Church autokephaly.