The project “Antimoz Iverieli – Part of European Intellectual Space” implemented by the TSU Institute of Philosophy aimed at studying the creative works by Antimoz Iverieli (Anthim the Iberian) and presenting them to the public. Three books were prepared and published within the framework of the project: “Antimoz Iverieli’s Works” (Volume 2); “Collection of Trilingual Georgian-Romanian-English Parallel Texts of Selected Works by Antimoz Iverieli” and “Antimological Studies: Tradition and Perspectives.” By this, the translation of Antimoz Iverieli’s works into Georgian was actually completed.

Vice Rector of Tbilisi State University, Nino Okribelashvili, Deputy Head of Mission of Romania to Georgia, Dragoș Ispas, Director General of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, Jaba Samushia, foreign consultants of the project from Romania, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Bucharest, Prof. Viorel Vizureanu, representatives of the Georgian Patriarchate and other invited guests attended the closing presentation of the project.

According to Vice Rector of Tbilisi State University, Nino Okribelashvili, the fact that Georgia had always been closely linked to Europe is confirmed by Antimoz Iverieli’s activities. “Antimoz Iverieli managed to do what many states deemed impossible to achieve. Three centuries ago, he created a printing house that helped develop knowledge and science in Georgia. The project is important because it fully reflects the university’s mission. In particular, we see that the research component is involved in the process of teaching and learning and what is most important, Antimoz Iverieli’s creative works have been returned to the public. For the first time, his works are available in Georgian,” the Vice Rector noted.

In 2019, the project was financed by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation. Director General of the Foundation, Jaba Samushia noted that the three books published within the framework of the project are unique because besides biographical information, they offer Antimoz Iverieli’s philosophical views and many unknown details. “We created a monograph years ago, which mainly contained Antimoz Iverieli’s biographical elements. This project enabled us to completely present his creative works to the public, including his philosophical views about religion and other details previously unknown to Georgian readers,” Jaba Samushia said.

The book “Antimoz Iverieli’s Works” (Volume 2) created within the framework of the project contains Antimoz Iverieli’s theological-philosophical and theological-political works, as well as prayers created by him and Christian poems. All texts provided in the collection were translated from Romanian and Greek into Georgian for the first time.

The second book “Collection of Trilingual Georgian-Romanian-English Parallel Texts of Selected Works by Antimoz Iverieli” contains 15 sermons from the author’s famous work, the Didache, and his work “Teaching the Secret of Repentance.” The book is unique as it represents the first attempt in the world to translate Antimoz Iverieli’s views into English. Rismag Gordeziani was the editor of the Georgian texts, while English translations were edited by Professor Michael Vickers, Dean of Degrees at Jesus College, the University of Oxford.

The third book “Antimological Studies: Tradition and Perspectives” is a monograph of Antimoz Iverieli’s philosophical and theological texts.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation for standing with us constantly. This is the third project financed by the Foundation. Within the framework of these three projects, we fully completed translation of Antimoz Iverieli’s works,” TSU Professor and a project co-sponsor, Anastasia Zakariadze said.   

A BA Program in Theology was prepared as part of the project “Antimoz Iverieli – Part of European Intellectual Space”; in addition, an electronic library named after Anthim the Iberian was created.

The project was implemented by TSU Professors Anastasia Zakariadze, Irakli Brachuli, Valerian Ramishvili, Demur Jalagonia, PhD student Giorgi Grigolashvili and Archpriest Aleksi Kshutashvili.