THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF SAINT SHIO MGVIMELI (IN CYMENIAN AND METAPHRASTICAL HAGIOGRAPHIC WORKS)

Abstract

Hagiographic works of various editions have been obtained about the Assyrian Holy Fathers: Cymenian, Metaphrastical, Svinaksar, which, in addition to their theological and historical-literary value, are important in the formation of literary-artistic thinking and aesthetic point of view. From them, two editions stand out from the artistic-expressive point of view - Cymenian and Metaphrastical. It is necessary to reveal the characteristic aspects of these works, which are valuable for literary studies, for which it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the hagiographic genre in general, to determine their place within the development of the genre and literary thought.The study of the literary-historical issues of the martyrdom-lives of the Assyrian Holy Fathers dates back to the time when the texts and related scientific works were published. These are: Codicological-textological researches of Korneli Kekelidze, Ivane Javakhishvili, Sargis Kakabadze, Ilia Abuladze, Zaza Aleksidze and other scientists, Revaz Siradze, Griver Farulava, Saba-Firuz Metreveli scientific works in the field of aesthetics. I think to determine the literary value of the texts of the cimenian and Metaphrastical editions of Shio Mghvimeli's Life" will show the hagiographic characters spiritual life importance, the path of spiritual development as a result of the symbolic understanding of the biblical-evangelical path and the necessity of its imitation, first of all, of the way of the Savior, as well as of the way of the apostles, fathers and saints. St. Shio Mgvimeli by his path of spiritual development led to spiritual deification, communion with God, gaining the kingdom of heaven. Hagiography describes and illustrates the most difficult way for a character to gain heavenly citizenship through the spiritual development of a saint, which is achieved by performing miracles by the characters following God’s miracles, gaining divine healing power, and overcoming obstacles. In the “Life of Shio Mgvimeli ” it is shown how he reached to be in heaven with the God, by the will of God, spiritual deification, gaining citizenship of the heavens, which in this hagiographic work, in every specimen of this genre, is set as the main goal of man's earthly action.