ON THE ISSUE OF DATING THE ‘’MARTYRDOM OF RAZHDEN’’

Murad Mtvarelidze

Murad Mtvarelidze Doctor of Philology, Professor of Gori State University, Chavchavadze St. 53, Gori, 1400, Georgia, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2335-6312

Abstract

According to the opinion established for decades in Georgian philological science, the 12th century was considered the date of writing the hagiographic text about the first martyr Razhden, however, in the early 60s of the last century, the Georgian scientist, Professor Mikheil Kavtaria, expressed the opinion that the “Martyrdom of Razhden” was not created until the 18th century and that its author was the famous clergyman, Catholicos Besarion Orbelishvili. In this regard, the researcher brings certain arguments, the validity of which, we believe, requires some correction.

‘’The martyrdom of Razhden’’ has been touched upon by a number of scientists, of whom almost all researchers believe that it should have been created in the 11th-12th centuries. An exception in this regard is the approach of the great Georgian scientist Korneli Kekelidze to the text of interest to us. Academician K. Kekelidze somewhat confused the issue of dating the text of "Rajden’s Martyrdom". The scientist did not have a single opinion when dating this monument, which is why his arguments are quite contradictory.

The aim of this work is to reconcile the existing research on "RajdenisMartyrdom", to observe and analyze the editions of the text of the work and to draw appropriate conclusions.

Keywords: Razhden, Besarion Orbelishvili, Mikheil Kavtaria.

Author Biography

Murad Mtvarelidze, Doctor of Philology, Professor of Gori State University, Chavchavadze St. 53, Gori, 1400, Georgia,

According to the opinion established for decades in Georgian philological science, the 12th century was considered the date of writing the hagiographic text about the first martyr Razhden, however, in the early 60s of the last century, the Georgian scientist, Professor Mikheil Kavtaria, expressed the opinion that the “Martyrdom of Razhden” was not created until the 18th century and that its author was the famous clergyman, Catholicos Besarion Orbelishvili. In this regard, the researcher brings certain arguments, the validity of which, we believe, requires some correction.

‘’The martyrdom of Razhden’’ has been touched upon by a number of scientists, of whom almost all researchers believe that it should have been created in the 11th-12th centuries. An exception in this regard is the approach of the great Georgian scientist Korneli Kekelidze to the text of interest to us. Academician K. Kekelidze somewhat confused the issue of dating the text of "Rajden’s Martyrdom". The scientist did not have a single opinion when dating this monument, which is why his arguments are quite contradictory.

The aim of this work is to reconcile the existing research on "RajdenisMartyrdom", to observe and analyze the editions of the text of the work and to draw appropriate conclusions.

Keywords: Razhden, Besarion Orbelishvili, Mikheil Kavtaria.