Metropolitan Anania Japaridze (EDT), Mamuka Matsaberidze (EDT) Short History of the Georgian Church

Annotation

Georgia is located in the south of the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian Seas. The history of its statehood counts back almost 3,500 years, and that of Christianity, 2,000 years. The Mother of God is considered the principal protector and intercessor of Georgia since the country was first allocated to her to preach in. Though later, on the will of God, she gave her icon to the Holy Apostle St. Andrew and dispatched him to preach Gospel in Georgia. St. Andrew preached in different parts of Georgia. St. Andrew preached Gospel together with St. Simon of Canaan in western Georgia, who was buried in Komani Village, Georgia. Another Apostle St. Matthias was also buried in Georgia. He preached in the south-western part of the country and was buried in Gonio, nearby Batumi. According to the oldest scripts, holy Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus also visited East Georgia and preached Gospel there. The Georgian Church has been founded by the Holy Apostles. Their journeys and preaches are scripted in the Georgian Chronicles, also by Greek and Latin authors, for instance Origuene (II-III cc), Bishop Dorotheus of Tire (IV c), Bishop Epiphan of Cyprus (IV c), Nikita of Paphlagon (IX c), Ecumen (X c), etc.