BOLSHEVISM IN GEORGIA – SEEN FROM THE POINTS OF VIEW OF THE ARCHPRIEST NIKITA TALAKVADZE

Abstract

Three historical events were significantly important for the history of Georgia in the first half of the 20th century. 1. The restoration of autocephaly of the Georgian apostolic orthodox church (March 12, 1917). 2. the establishment of Tbilisi State University (February 8, 1918); 3. The declaration of the state  independence of Georgia (May 26, 1918). The archpriest Nikita Talakvadze was one of the  ecclesiastic individuals, who took an active part  in these processes. He had completed the higher  ecclesiastical education, was distinguished orator   and the tireless propagandist for the freedom  of the homeland and the mother church. He was the deserving companion-in-arms of the catholicos-patriarch Kyrion  of Georgia, he criticized all the enmities, that took place in the affairs of the  newly-exempted church. He has written the vast number of notes about both — the religious and secular   life. It is noteworthy to mention the political history of Georgia in 1917-1932 written by him, describing the democratic republic of Georgia as well as the Bolshevistic occupation rule, political repressions, about the attitude of the Bolsheviks regarding the principles of the national and state regulations against the Georgian national interest of the Georgian people. The author was bravely unmasking so called Soviet experiments: collectivization, industrialization, cultural revolution, he is demonstrating the internal conflicts and violence of the occupational authorities, the destructive results of the aggressive atheistic policy that lead to the Georgian church in the ruined condition. The writings of the  archpriest Nikita Talakvadze is the precious source for the history of Georgia in the first half of the 20th century.

          Keywords:  archpriest Nikita Talakvadze, Bolshevik occupational authority, political repressions, collectivization, industrialization, cultural revolution, catholicos-patriarch Kyrion  of Georgia

Published
2022-06-30
Section
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES - SECTION OF GEORGIAN HISTORY