Contemporary Religious Practices in Lower Svaneti

The article is based on the ethnographic data collected in lower Svaneti since 2006. These region is not thoroughly studied, but there are several works on its history and culture. Johan Guldenstadt, priest Polievktos Karbelashvili, Joane Margiani, Ekvtime Takaishvili and several other travelers and researches collected the information and wrote the descriptions of their trips to this region. Among the scholars interested in various aspects of ethnography of lower Svaneti were Vera Bardavelidze, Salaref Gasviani, Junis Oniani, Julietta Rukhadze, Nino Mindadze, Nino Abakelia, Ketevan Alaverdashvili, Nino Gambashidze etc. I have elaborated the calendar of contemporary practiced religious holidays. This data were compared to the information preserved in the sources and analyzed in the scientific literature. The article describes also the holidays and festivals that are not performed any more, or those which are under the threat of disappearance. At the same time I have collected information regarding newly established holidays, which are practiced since last two decades. Special attention is payed to the part of Georgian Orthodox Church in the religious life of the region and the impact of migrations on the religious practice