SOME SYMBOLS IN „LIFE OF SAINT IOAN ZEDAZNELI“

Abstract

The main task of my article to discuss the symbols in „Life of Saint Ioan Zedazneli“ according the special issue of the story. To study the main characteristic of the story, to identify the place of the story and its value in Georgian Literature. We have to study the story in parralel of the Bible, other hagiographical stories, we have to identify some similarities other hagiographical stories. The story has main similarities with the stories writen about the life of Saint Fathers from Asureti (Syria), all abovementioned will help us define the importance of „Life of Saint Ioan Zedazneli“, to define the value of the idea of the story, aestethic meaning of it and its fiction.

First of all we ahve to ask how does the way of Saint Ioan from Asureti looks like? Dificult way chosen by him was the way to the Christ, to the spiritual life. This way reminds us the way of Abraham to Canaan and it is shown in the story themselves. Saint Ioan like a star shined from the Medieval.He decided to went to Kartlifrom Siria. His coming to Kartli is defined by the will of the God which is given by paradigmatic-hipodigmic faces from Old and New Testament. His coming to Kartli is given by the episode from the New Testament like the star from the east and it looks like the Gospels walk trough the star which is also the symbol.

The teaching and the praying of the Saint Ioan Zedazneli is full of the wisdom from the Bible, full of the moral and pluralty. In his speech we hear the deep knowledge of theology, great spiritual experience, attitude to the mortal and heaven life, necessity of using New Testament’s principles in monkhood. In his stories it is given the explanation of characteristic of Angels and human, meaning of life and heaven life, mortal and immortal world, on the base of these studies it is given the explanation of who is the human and what is the mission of human life. He remind to the prayers the sinful life of first humans to get used to the holy life, life without sin and hard life of Monks. He remind to the prayers not to change God’s will, he lived in his way perfect and left us holy name. He and his learners established great work, it was the Monks life, life which was dealed to the state development later. Monasteries were the places where the stories were writen, some stories were translated from one language to another, making icons, architecture, rewriting of manuscripts, in moasteries there were schools for hymns, which were playing the roles of spiritual development of learners, the combination of melody and meaning was impressing the listeners. On the top of all this work was standing Sain Ioan Zedazneli and his learners. Activities carried on by the holy fathers from Asureti made great effect on the life of Georgian Church, culture and the history of the nation and its literature. They played great role to establish the concept of Christianity within Georgians, which was the event for the epoch, especailly for establishing the diophysical consciousness.