MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST (BASED ON IAKOB KHUTSESI’S “THE MARTYRDOM OF SHUSHANIK“ AND VLADIMIR ALPHENIDZE’S “THE MORNING STAR“)

Abstract

This article analyzes Vladimir Alpenidze's contemporary novel-tale "The Morning Star," which offers a new artistic interpretation of the fifth-century hagiographic text "The Martyrdom of Shushanik" by Iakob Khutsesi (Tsurtaveli). Alpenidze contextualizes the contributions of Tsurtaveli and King Pharnaoz, connecting the creation of the Georgian alphabet with the emergence of Georgia's first literary monument, thereby positioning writing as a fundamental pillar of national identity.

The study examines how creativity functions as a dynamic process that continuously reinterprets the past, demonstrating the ongoing influence of hagiographic traditions on modern Georgian literature. By analyzing the ideological frameworks and artistic imagery employed by Alpenidze, the article reveals how this twentieth-century author transposed an ancient text into a new historical-cultural context, successfully synthesizing national and religious elements.

Alpenidze's work skillfully integrates creative imagination with historical reality, weaving together hagiographic sources with folk legends to create a richly intertextual narrative. The novel harmonizes Christian and mythical origins while reimagining Iakob Khutsesi not merely as a writer but as a multidimensional historical figure embodying strong national consciousness. "The Morning Star" thus represents a cultural dialogue across epochs, wherein historical narrative acquires renewed significance through contemporary interpretation, exemplifying literature's perpetually regenerative nature.

Keywords: Hagiography, Novel-tale, Intertextuality, Reception, National identity.