The “International Seasonal (Spring) School: “Abkhazia from the Middle Ages to the Present (Historical-Culturological Aspects)” is the project of the Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Centre of Manuscripts. It is implemented in partnership with the Sokhumi State University. The School project is financially supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia Georgia (Grants OTG-II-19-176 – OTG-II-21-080). The aim of the School is to to create the space where application of up-todate knowledge and methodology for understanding the autonomous republic of Abkhazia – an inalienable part of Georgia – its history from the middle ages to the present is alive and functioning. In line with modern standards the project envisages enhancing background for bringing together and conveying the knowledge accumulated in this branch of study; against the background of overwhelming falsification and politicization tendencies it moreover acquires central importance to develop a standing mandate for setting competency and thorough application of up-to-date methodology as a working mode of the School procedure so that the School participants have access to information that stems from reliable sources and this way they can improve their topical knowledge as well as raise their awareness of the subject matter in general. Further, as it sets forth the topical questions within the field of historical and culturological research of subject it defines prospective research criteria for it and forms partnerships, this way it promotes integration of Georgian scholars within the international academic research milieu. The academic program of the School in synthesis with various other activities (round table and panel discussions, interactive simulation) covers the lecture course. For the sake of illustrating history of the region of Abkhazia the School lecture thematic included most of branches of the discipline of history: political history (middle ages, modern and contemporary periods), church history, historical geography, history of culture (architectural, fresco and miniature arts, analysis of the literary culture) the ethno-linguistic studies and research in the source study (narrative, documentary, epigraphic). The material herein was subdivided within the following 5 learning modules: 1. Terms “Abkhazian” and “Abkhazia” 2. From the “Kingdom of Abkhazia” to the Occupied Territory 3. Ecclesiastical processes in Abkhazia 4. Abkhazia: Cultural Heritage 5. Abkhazia in the collections of the National Centre of Manuscripts The leading scholars of the National Centre of Manuscripts share their research results as well as methodology to the School participants. The School is an environment that functions as a platform for bringing together representatives from different institutions (educational and scientific centers) of Georgia, including Abkhaz researchers as well as foreign researchers. The collection herein represents bilingual annotations of lectures given within the schools. Each topic has its bibliography with sources and monographs.

В предлагаемой книге монографически изучена история грузино-балтийских взаимоотношений, хронологические рамки которой насчитывают 11-вековой период: с IX века – до современности. В представленных очерках изучено множество важных фактов, отражающих более чем тысячелетнюю историю военно-политических, экономических и научно-культурных связей между Грузией и странами Балтии – Латвии, Литвы и Эстонии. Книга предназначена для историков, а также читателей, интересующихся как означенным вопросом, так и историей грузино-европейских взаимоотношений.

Samegrelo is a particularly interesting region for studying the identity and uniqueness of Georgian Christian culture. This book analyzes various source materials relevant to this topic. Christian cultural ideals, paradigms or symbols are clearly revealed in these sources. Source materials are distinguished thematically, chronologically, and functionally: words, concepts, phrases; poetic or other genres folkloric texts including proverbs, parables, myths; relics depicting liturgical, ethnographic-ritual practices and related terms; micro and macro toponyms; vocabulary containing symbols of trees, plants, animals and numbers; facts about everyday life. The book is divided into separate articles and sub-chapters based on the content and systematic grouping of the obtained information. Through comparing these genres, the parallels between hagiography and the mentioned materials are particularly interesting and reveal obvious similarities between them. Hagiography is the main source of medieval Georgian religious knowledge. Certain systems of thought; a special form of contemplation of the world; aesthetic and ethical views; philosophical thought - all of these were formed in Georgia during the medieval period and are sometimes expressed in the form of theoretical discussions in Georgian hagiography, and sometimes through pieces of art. The worldview established by Christianity was most clearly reflected in hagiography. Since it is the most reliable source for the study of medieval thought, the assessment of the Christian realities of Samegrelo is mainly based on comparison with hagiographic literary traditions.

The catalogue was prepared within the project “Basiani: Bilingual Print and Online Catalogue of Material Culture Monuments” [NFR – 19 – 12539], a winner of the “State Scientific Grant Competition for Fundamental Research” announced by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation in 2019. The project was realized by the “Research Center of Georgian Culture and Tourism Resources”. The report of the expedition was prepared by a team of scholars: Professor Teimuraz Khutsishvili (Head), Nodar Aronishidze, David Gachechladze, Bebur Gozalishvili, Ana Imedashvili, Shalva Koghuashvili, Professor David Maisuradze, Levan Tsikarishvili, and Davut Hakan Berk (Mofinadze). The consultant – Dr. of Archaeology Sami Pataci (Turkey). Translated by Lado Mirianashvili ©2024 Cover design by David Jamrishvili This catalogue was printed with financial support of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia. The material is sorted alphabetically by the names of the described monuments. The photographs, except for those noted otherwise, were taken by the authors of the catalogue during field trips.

The research expedition was conducted the frame of the winner project – "Basiani - bilingual printed and online catalog of material culture monuments" [NFR – 19 – 12539] which was announced by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSF) in 2019 within state scientific grant competition - Scientific Research of Material and Spiritual Heritage of Georgia Aboard. The project is being implemented by Research Center of Georgian Culture and Tourism Resources. The expedition report was prepared by: Professor Teimuraz Khutsishvili (the head), Nodar Aronishidze, David Gachechladze, Bebur Gozalishvili, Ana Imedashvili, Shalva Koghuashvili, Professor Davit Maisuradze, Levan Tsikarishvili. The consultants: Dr. of Philosophy in History, Professor Kakha Shengelia; Dr. of Philosophy in History, Professor Teimuraz Jojua; Dr. of Archaeology Sami Pataci (Turkey). The expedition report is printed by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia funding. The material is sorted alphabetically by the names of the described monuments. Photos that are not indicated the owner or the author are taken during the expedition work. The reports of 30 expeditions conducted by the group of authors in the Republic of Turkey in 2012-2019 have been published since 2015.

The research expedition was conducted the frame of the winner project – "Basiani - bilingual printed and online catalog of material culture monuments" [NFR – 19 – 12539] which was announced by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSF) in 2019 within state scientific grant competition - Scientific Research of Material and Spiritual Heritage of Georgia Aboard. The project is being implemented by Research Center of Georgian Culture and Tourism Resources. The expedition report was prepared by: Professor Teimuraz Khutsishvili (the head), Nodar Aronishidze, David Gachechladze, Bebur Gozalishvili, Ana Imedashvili, Shalva Koghuashvili, Professor David Maisuradze, Levan Tsikarishvili Davut Hakan Berk (Mofinadze). The consultants: Dr. of Archaeology Sami Pataci (Turkey). The expedition report is printed by Research Center of Georgian Culture and Tourism Resources funding. The material is sorted alphabetically by the names of the described monuments. Photos that are not indicated the owner or the author are taken during the expedition work. The reports of 31 expeditions conducted by the group of authors in the Republic of Turkey in 2012-2023 have been published since 2015.

„დიდი კაპადოკია ძვ. წ. I ათასწლეულის პირველ ჩახევარში” გვიანხეთური ხანის აღმოსავლეთ მცირე აზსიის დღემდე ნაკლებად შესწავლილ სამეფო-სამთავროთა ისტორიული გეოგრაფიის, პოლიტიკური, სოციალურ-ეკონომიკური და რელიგიის ისტორიის კომპლექსური კვლევა-ძიების სანიმუშო მაგალითია. მონოგრაფია ეფუმნება. ავტორმა პირვეელწყაროთა სერიოზულ ანალიხს მაქსიმალურად გამოიყენა ასურული, ურარტული ლურსმული, იეროგლიფურ-ლუვიური, ძველებრაული, ძველსპარსული და ლათინური წერილობითი ძეგლები. ისტორიულ პირველწყაროთა სახით მ“ნოგრაფიაში ფართოდაა მოხმობილი აღმოსავლეთ მცირე აზიის ტერიტორიაზე აღმოჩენილი ძე. წ. I ათასწლეულის პირეელი ნახევრით დათარიღებული არქეოლოგიური მასალა. გათვალისწინებულია ენობრივი მონაცემები (ეთნონიმიკა, ტოპონიმიკა, ჰიდრონიმიკა, ორონიმიკა..). ასევე სრულადაა წარმოჩენილი საკვლევი პრობლემის ირგელიე არსებული ქართული და უცხოენოვანი მდიდარი სამეცნიერო ლიტერატურა. უყურადღებოდ არც ლექსიკოლოგიური და კარტოგრაფიული ხასიათის გამოცემებია დარჩენილი. ავტორი არაერთ ახალ მოსაზრებას გვთავაზობს, რომელიც საშუალებას გეაძლევს გეიანხეთური ხანის სამე- ფო-სამთავროთა (თაბალი, თუნა, თუხანი, შინუხთუ, ხილაქუ, ის მუშქების ქვეყაჩა, მელიდი, გურგუმი, კუმუხი) ისტორიის ცალკეულ ასპექტებში ღრმად ჩავიხედოთ. დიდი „კაპადოკია უძველესი დროიდან მოყოლებული ქართველთა განსახლების ერთ-ერთ რეგიონადაა მიჩნეული. აქედან გამომდინარე, ისეთი ახალი ნაშრომის გამოქვეყნება, რომელიც ამ რეგიონის ისტორიის რეკონსტრუქციაში გვეხმარება, მისასალმებელია და ანგარიშგასაწევი. მოხარული ვარ, რომ ჩემს მიერ ჯერ კიდევ გასული საუკუნის 60-იან წლებში დაწყებული კვლევა-ძიებანი დღეგრძელდება და ჩვენი ცოდნა ძველაღმოსავლური სამყაროს შესახებ ახალი ფაქტებითა და მონაცემებით მდიდრდება.

A Synaxarion is an important genre of Byzantine liturgical writing. It is a collection of the commemorations of saints, which, along with commemorations, includes martyrdoms or lives, Triodia, and various regulations and canons adopted by the holy fathers. The Synaxaries of the 9th and 11th centuries were gradually acquiring features of a Typikon. The Athonite redaction of the Synaxary was widely spread in the Byzantine realm, and apart from the Hagiorite liturgical practice, was based on the Synaxaries of the Monastery of Stoudiou and Constantinople. The first translation of the Synaxary into Georgian was executed by Euthymius the Hagiorite (1005-1019), the hegumen of the Iviron Monastery. Euthymius’s version is known in scholarship as the Lesser Synaxary, for the purpose of differentiating with George the Hagiorite’s Great Synaxary. Regrettably however, Euthymius’s translation has survived in a sole and defective manuscript. Due to the constant change in the liturgical practice, the Synaxary was perpetually expanding with new commemorations being added. In time, the Athonite Synaxary was expanded by new commemorations and a new edition became a desideratum. In the first half of the eleventh century, the so-called Great Synaxary was created on the Holy Mountain. This version was translated into Georgian between 1042-1044 by another Hegumen of the Iveron Monastery, George the Hagiorite. The Georgian translation is the only witness to the original Great Synaxary and to the early Hagiorite liturgical practice in general, as the original Greek text has not survived. George’s Great Synaxary was the main liturgical guidebook of the Georgian Church until the 14th century, when it was substituted by the Sabaitic Typikon of Šio-Mghvime. Nevertheless, the Great Synaxary retained its relevance, as numerous manuscripts of this redaction down to the eighteenth century have survived. Due to its momentous liturgical importance, the manuscripts of George’s Synaxary has preserved contemporaneous and later agapae, commemorations, and colophons that provide crucial information to the study of Georgian monasteries and other aspects of medieval Georgian history. The following edition George’s Great Synaxary is based on the six eleventh-century manuscripts. The critical text of the Synaxary is provided with an introduction and a historical overview of the formation and development of the Great Synaxary, of its Georgian translation, and of other issues that the study raises: the regulations of the canon of the Psalms, the commemoration of Georgian saints in the Synaxary, and so on. The Great Synaxary consists of several constituent parts. The first, monthly part of the Synaxary, was based on Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia Synaxary, which is rich in saints’ commemorations and martyrdoms. The Georgian Synaxary contains more commemorations than any individual manuscript of the Constantinopolitan Synaxary, nevertheless all commemorations of George’s redaction are attested in Delehaye’s critical redaction of the Constantinople Synaxary and vice versa. The only addition that George allowed to the Synaxary in the first, monthly, part of the Synaxary, was the commemoration of two Georgian figures – John and Euthymius the Hagiorites. In other manuscripts of the eleventh century, other Georgian figures also appear: Prokhorios the Iberian (12. II, Jer. Geo-24-25), St Nino of Cappadocia (14 I, O/Sin. Geo-4-61, Jer. Geo-24-25), Hilarion the Iberian (19. XI, Ivir. Geo. 30, A193). The second part of the Great Synaxary contains the periods of a Triodion and a Pentekostarion. The study has revealed that the source of this part of the Synaxary must have been the Hagiorite Typikon, which on its part followed the Typikon of the Stoudio Monastery. The third part of the Great Synaxary, consists of five disciplinary articles: 1. On the meals and drinks and the type and quantity of the meals. 2. Concerning the great and holy fasts. 3. Concerning the regulation of meals and work for the novitiate monks. 4. Concerning the Enunciation. 5. Concerning the clothing. The direct source of these articles is the Hypotypos of Theodore Studiou and the Diatypos of Athanasios the Hagiorite, both reworked on the Holy Mountain. Only the Georgian version of this work has survived. The disciplinary part is followed by shorter articles. 1. The headings and endings of the lessons from the Gospels, 2. The Gospel lessons for the morning of the Resurrection, 3. The regulation of the consecration of a church, 4. Prokimenoi of the Liturgy, 5. Hallelujah from the Psalms, 6. Vesper Prokimenoi, 7. Notes on the rules of the reading of the Psalms, 8. Typikon’s indices, 9. The list of Kings and Patriarchs, 10. Dorotheos of Tyra, Concerning the Seventy apostles of Christ. The text of the Typikon culminates a complex of Exaposteilarion. The present edition of the Great Synaxary is supplied with a critical apparatus: liturgical schemata and terms, dictionary, indices of Biblical books and hymns, personal and geographic indices, which will aid the reader in a better comprehension of the text.