Scientific and social journal
“SAMI SAUNJE” (three treasures)  №3(13), 2014
(in georgian)

SUMMARY

MOST HOLY PATRIARCH KIRILL’S APPEAL
TO THE LOCAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES
REGARDING THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill appealed to the heads of the local Orthodox Churches. He issued an epistle in connection with the situation in eastern Ukraine, where fratricidal civil war has been ongoing for several months.  He asked the heads to pray for peace on the Ukrainian land. The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church also appealed to the heads to voice up for the protection of the Orthodox Christians in Eastern Ukraine. He stated that the Christians are suffering violence from Greek Catholics and schismatics and are under constant fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. The Patriarch issued the epistle on August 14, 291.

MITROPOLIT  IOANE (GAMREKELI)
GEORGIA’S  PATH

According to the author, currently, the primary task of the Georgian government should be to restore political, economic and demographic balance in two ways: (1) by balancing external relations and (2) by propergovernment of internal issues. For the implementation of the first direction, training of the diplomatic corps staff is necessary. In addition, balancing the interests of political and economic forces that exist around Georgia in order to preserve the well-being and development of the country are required.  For the second direction, it is imperative to develop natural priorities with the consideration of the experience of the leading countries. These priorities are education and agriculture.

EURASIA INSTITUTE
AUGUST WAR
ANSWERS TO PRINCIPAL QUESTIONS FIVE YEARS LATER

In the article, the analysts of Eurasia Institute examine the reasons for the outset of August War and possible motives of the involved sides. Research shows that the outbreak of war did not benefit the Russian government; Georgian people were not interested in it either. Various documents depict Saakashvili regime as the instigator of the war. The regime voiced “Russian aggression" concerns only after August 9.  Until then, they promised public "restoration of constitutional order" in the Tskhinvali region.
At the same time, the study notes that Saakashvili was not insane. He would not have gone to war with Russia without consulting the West. The motive of Americans in this case is clear – to achieve a final break between Georgia and Russia. Doing so would aid establishing American hegemony in the Caucasian region. Strategically, leaving Abkhazia and South Ossetia under the Russian influence would not hinder the process.
Eurasia Institute conducted the research in August 2013, but it remains relevant.

MAMUKA TSUKHISHVILI
LAST CATHOLICOS OF WESTERN GEORGIA

The article describes the activities of Maxim II Abashidze, Catholicos of Western Georgia, to strengthen Imereti kingdom and the church of Western Georgia.  It highlights his ambassadorship to Russia in 1769 as Kutaisi Metropolitan, and later in 1784 as the Catholicos of West Georgia. His diplomatic activities brought Georgia favorable results.

GULBAD AMIRANASHVILI
PAINTER OF KASHUETI CHURCH

The article provides a brief description of the creative activity of a famous Georgian artist Lado Gudiashvili while living in Paris. Upon his return to Georgia, the Soviet Government tried to influence the artist to return to Soviet style art; however, Gudiashvili had already been affected by the free-spirited art of the West. The attempts ended up in a failure as Lado Gudiashvili was rather strong spirited and was able to resist the pressure exerted on him.
In 1947, Lado Gudiashvili began painting Kashueti Church of St. Giorgi commissioned by Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Kalistrate Tsintsadze.
Shalva Amiranashvili, an art critic, provided a personal guidance in the creation of the mural. The Mural was halfway completed when, unexpectedly, the government of the Soviet Georgia forced the artist to halt the work and declared the art of Lado Gudiashvili unacceptable to the Soviet ideology. Since the incident, the artist experienced the hardship and tribulation for the next ten years. Thanks to the efforts of his wife, Lado Gudiashvili managed to endure the Soviet oppression.
In 1957-1958, after a change in the political turmoil, the Soviet people, as well as foreigners unanimously recognized the exceptional talent of Lado Gudiashvili.  From then on, the artistic creativity of Lado Gudiashvili has had no shortage of admirers.

GVANTSA KOPLATADZE
 IDEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
OF THE BYZANTINE RENAISSANCE