The book is dedicated to Zarzma Monastery-home of Georgian spirituality which was established by Serapion of Zarzma-a prominent figure in the Feudal Georgia. He established this monastery in the south part of Georgia in the 80’s of the ninth century. The book portrays the history of the monastery from its establishment till today. The book pays special attention to illustrating architecture and décor of the monastery complex, epigraphy. The book analyses unique examples of gold-work of Zarzma, their style and virtuosity. A separate section is dedicated to the frescoes of the domed church-the editor of the book decided to bring those examples to the readers’ attention without verbal explanations. We hope that the present edition will interest the new generations of art critics, specialists of wall paintings and encourage them explore the mysteries of Zarzma frescoes. The present edition analysis the text of “life” of Serapion Zarzmeli from different angles: as a historical source, as an artistic and theological work. Special attention is paid to the Russian translation of the text made by a famous Georgian scientist, academician Corneli Kekelidze. It is the first time when the factual differences between the original and translated texts were identified, which requested discussion of the issue in the limelight of history of Christianity, of old Greek and Byzantine rhetoric, Byzantine Esthetics and poetry and of the whole Georgian hagiographic literature both in the original and translated versions. Biblical passages identified in the science were added with 20 new passages. In total, the text of the work consists of 66 passages out of which 26 passages belong to the Old Testament and 40 to the New Testament. There is an opinion that the “Life” is likely to outshine all other Georgian hagiographic works with the number of the passages from the Old Testament given in it, that Basil of Zarzma or the editor of the work were more likely to have been aware of the works of Clement Alexandrian, including his treatise "Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved? “ , that the text sets forth the Apostle Paul’s policy on “Abundance supply”, that the text represent an example of rhythmic prose. To illustrate this, the book brings the example of praising saint in the form of blessing-addressing which is full of rhetoric figures. Readers of the present addition will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with all these for the first time. In addition, the book emphasizes the author’s or editor’s in-depth knowledge of the political, religious and literature processes developing in Byzantine. We would like to annunciate the readers that this publication about Zarzma, full of comprehensive illustrations is unprecedented.
Content
Part I
Preface
Roin Metreveli
Zarzma-Symbol of Spirituality
Rusudan Labadze
Zazrma Moastery according to the “Life” of Serapion Zarzmeli
Merab Beridze
Onomastic
Onomatology of the “Life” Of Serapion Zarzmeli
Nestan Sulava
Zarzma as a center of theologyl-literature Ghia Marsagishvili
Architectural Complex of Zarzma Monastery
Wall Paintings of Zarzma
Photo illustrations was edited for publishing by Fler Devdariani
Valeri Silagava Zarzma Epigraphy
Temur Sakvarelidze Examples of gold-work remained from antiquities of Zarzma
Zaza Abashidze
Akhaltsikhe, Tao-Klarjeti and lazeti Eparchy
Part II
Basil of Zarzma, “ Life and Citizenship of Our Blessed Father Serapion’. Scientifically approved defined text by the leadership and editorship of Ilia Abuladze.
Text adaptation by Natela Vachnadze
Ketevan Jervalidze
Comments on the work by Basil Zarzmeli and its Russian translation
Abstract (In English)
Abstract (In Russian)
The book was printed with the blessing of Theodore (Chuadze) Metropolitan of Akhaltsikhe, Tao-Klarjeti and Lazeti
Idea of Monk-Priest Nikoloz (Getsadze)-Archbishop of Zarzma Monastery.
Editorial Board:
Academician Roin Metreveli-Editor in Chief
Professor Natela Vachnadze- Compiling, editing
Professor Valeri Asatiani
Monk-Priest Nikoloz (Getsadze)
Sandro Asatiani _Coordinator
Tamar Varvaridze-Design
Maya Gurabanidze-Computer editing
