The process of transformation of the religious situation in Svaneti from the late Middle Ages to the present day (the term "Pap"/"Bap")

A well-developed Christian culture is characteristic of Svaneti. According to the sources that have been maintained until nowadays, Svaneti was divided into two dioceses: Balskvemo part belonged to Tsaishi Episcopate, Balszemo and Kvemo Svaneti belonged to the Tsageri Episcopate. At the same time, in the historical documents of Svaneti, the name of a local high-ranking clergyman – Chorbishop of Seti – is mentioned many times. He was residing in the middle of Mestia community in Seti.
After Georgia was divided into principalities, Svaneti was included into the kingdom of Imereti for some time, and then it gradually became an independent principality. From this time, i.e. from the beginning of the late Middle Ages, the religious situation of Svaneti changed dramatically, as well as the new forms were developed in Svaneti's everyday life. The spiritual and cultural educational life of all three parts of Svaneti also experienced a regression: the most important institutions and dioceses were no longer existing – the Chorbishop of Seti, the Episcopates of Tsaishi and Tsageri. Educated clerics were no longer being sent from lowlands to Svaneti, the churches lacked the equipment needed for the holy liturgy, etc.
Gradually, instead of normatively educated and consecrated priests, the priesthood was replaced by the people educated at home, mainly with the knowledge acquired in a hereditary way – by passing knowledge from father to son – they were also called "Pap"/"Bap", according to the name used in Svaneti to name the priest. "Pap"/"Bap" with the meaning of priest was probably established from the pre-Christian era due to foreign influence. However, the Georgian language also knows the term "Papa" in the meaning of ancestor.
During the late Middle Ages, until the second half of the 19th century, before the conquest of Svaneti by Russia, together with this blessed or so-called ~folk” priests, the whole community (groups of villages), parishioners of one or another church appear as guardians of the church. Every community was applying to the church as a sacred and social center to solve all kind of problems, to precede the law and etc.. The tradition of drafting documents of legal content also has been continued.
After the Russian Empire conquest of Svaneti the synodical rule has been launched, the authorities gradually appointed priests in all villages. The ethnographic material reveals that the attitude of the locals towards the newly established clergy was initially negative, but soon the new priests gained the trust of the Svans. In some places, priests often cooperated with the old, so-called ~folk priests”.
After the liberation of Georgia, priests were ordained in Svaneti, the Episcopates of Mestia and Zemo Svaneti were created, Kvemo Svaneti was included in the Episcopate of Tsageri and Lentekhi. The Georgian religious services were restored, monasteries and gymnasiums were established. The term "Pap"/"Bap" is obviously still used in the Svan language and now again in its original meaning – to denote the priests consecrated and ordained by the Apostolic Church of Georgia.