X-XIX Centuries Sources About Athonite’s Georgian Monastery

Abstract

Regarding the establishment and public figures of Athonite monastery there are rich and interesting sources in Georgian, Greece and other languages. There too many hagiographical, hymnographical, historical writings, inscriptions, icons, documents.

1. The first manuscript is so called Athoni’s collection manuscript Ath.558, which is the combination of different stories from different genres and was considered as a memorable book. The books this collection consists are: „memory“ created in the Athonite monastery, author Basili from Bagrat Mtatsmindeli- Athonite (K. Kekelidze, E. Metreveli, E. Gabidzashvili). In the hymns from Basili, which is dedicated to Saint Ioan and Epthvime from Athon, hagiographical works of Saint Giorgi Mtatsmindeli- Athonite, which must be mentioned separately for the resason that this story tell details about the establishment of the Athoni‘s Georgian monastery and the tell about the aim of the monastery.


2. The second one is the hagiographical work of Saint Giorgi Mtatsmindeli- Athonite (1009-1065) „life of Ioan and Ephtvime and valuable life of them said by the beggar Giorgi Khutsesmonazoni“ which was written 1042-1044 years.


3. Hagiographical writing „life and citizenship saint Giorgi Mtatsmindeli“ which was written in 1066-1068 years by Giorgi Mtsire and was ordered by Ioan Tchkondideli. We have to mention hymns by Saint Giorgi Shekenbuli which were written after Giorgi Mtsire’s stories and were dedicated to the Saint Giorgi Mtatsmindeli- Athonite.


4. According the Georgian sources about the establishment of Ivironi and about the Georgian monasteries there are sources from XVIII century’s first half period, this is the story written in Greece about the activities of Saint Ioane, Ephtvime and Giorgi. These two manuscripts of this story we have from the second half of XVIII century. This story was translated, summarized with comments by Manana Machkhaneli (Machkhaneli, 1982).


5. Important sources about the history of Iveria’s monastery we have in the “Memorable book from Athoni” in which from the X century (from 985 years) until XVII century there are kept 167 memorable stories.


6. We have to mention manuscripts kept in Georgian and Greece languages in Athon, historicaally valuable documents keeping important information about the life and value, condition and incomes of the monks living in the monastery.


7. To restore the history of the Ivironi monastery the main importing source kept in archives of the monastery, within them there are documents of Emperors: Konstantine VII (946 and 957/8), Romanoz II (960), Basili II (979/980), Imperors from XI century, patriarches, holy fathers from Bizantium and other documents. Most of abovementioned documents are in original language and htey have great value. In Paris it was published four valumes of the Ivironi’s materials which has great scientific value. It was added special essayoutline prepared by Jak Lefore. In 2008 in Tbilisi it was published Georgian version of this book (Ivironi materials in four volume, 2008) .


8. About the X-XI and more ancient history of Ivironi monastery materials kept in another monasteries from Athoni. For example: materials dedicated to Saint Atanase Mtatsmindeli, in some Georgian and byzantium, in the „life of Kartli“, in historical wirting of Giorgi Kedrene, in „chronology“ by Ioane Skilitsa.


9. All monks have to know the story about „Iverioni’s beauty Monastery“ (1151-1674) chronics which was translated and filled in XVIII century. It consist four main parts: the author of the first part is someone Monk Teodos, K. Kekelidze thinks that monk can be Georgian. In the story about Teodos the facts about the Ivironi monastery kept of 1259-1264 years. In the second part of the story is written by Ieremia from Greece, this author describes facts of 1592-1626 years. The author of third part also from Greece, and gives details of 1659-1674 years. At the end of XIX century „chronics“ were published by Greece author Gedeon, in 1947-1955 years by K. Kekelidze was published the list of Ivironi public figures which was collected on the base of the abovementioned “chronic” ( Kekelidze).


10. Some other travelling genres from XVIII-XIX centuries by Grigorovich-Barski, Timote Gabashvili, Iona Gedevanishvili and others. Separately must be mentioned works by Uspenski, which was written 1845 when he was in Ivironi (Uspenski). At the end of XIX century in Athons travelled Petre Kontchoshvili, his working consists important references (Kontchoshvili).

Abovementioned stories have main value not only for Athonite monastery but also for the history of other nation’s monastery life. For the history of Georgian and Byzantium political, literary collaboration, for the history of monastery life of Georgian and Byzantium, for the history Iveroni especailly for the early period life.