FATHER PETRE TATALASHVILI'S EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE GEORGIAN SANCTUARY OF ISTANBUL

Abstract

The residence of the Georgian Catholics in Istanbul, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, with its schools, printing house and rich library used to fulfill a great Georgian cultural, educational and scientific function outside of Georgia for more than a century.

The temple was built in 1861 by Father Petre Kharischirashvili in one of the most beautiful districts of Istanbul, Ferikoy (the village of Angels). It is noteworthy, that the most of the fathers serving in the Georgian Monastery of Istanbul were from Samtskhe-Javakheti by origin. Father Petre Tatalashvili was from Samtskhe as well.

During the hundred years (1861-1961) of its existence, Georgian Catholic Monastery of Istanbul acted as a spiritual, cultural, educational and scientific center where many national, educational or scientific activities were performed. Establishment of religious educational institution, Georgian-French schools, printing-houses, the literacy dissemination society among Georgians living in Turkey, library called after Akaki Tsereteli are good examples of cultural and educational activities of the Monastery. The Monastery was the educational center giving Georgian young people the opportunity to get education first in Istanbul and then to Europe. In schools, students had the opportunity to study literature, history, religion, theology and philosophy. Most of the fathers of the monastery were polyglots, fluent in French, Italian, German and Latin, so they helped students to learn languages. It supported many Georgian scientists and public figures, like Ivane Gvaramadze, Mikheil Tamarashvili, Shalva Vardidze, etc.

Key words: Petre Tatalashvili; Georgian Savane of Istanbul; Georgian Catholics.