Abstract:
Georgian-Armenian relationships span many centuries and
are very diverse. This time we will focus on the history of Armenian-
to-Georgian translation and will present to you the translator
unknown up until now – Ter Zachary Kakonashvili and his work.
In the manuscript MM-81(kept in Armenia, Matenadaran),
scribed in Mkhedruli, we can see 36 didactic texts of theological nature.
The manuscript contains sparce amount of illustrations and is
followed up by the scribe’s will and several colophones. The collection
is interesting due to its contents, as well as its target audience, place of creation and the identity of its compiler. The study of the
collection showed us that:
• it was created in Surami for the purpose of upbringing the
local new generation of Armenians with correct beliefs, as
well as, to teach them and assimilate them with the Armenian
ecclesiastical traditions;
• The collection was written in Georgian, since the local Armenian
youth could not read and study in Armenian anymore, possibly
due to the fact that they had already adopted the Georgian
language, thus had fully become Georgians, or they could use
just speaking Armenian;
• This, in itself confirms that there was an Armenian ecclesiastical
community, which had the ability of scripting and translating
manuscripts locally and taking care of and strengthening
Armenian religious traditions;
• Another person joins the Armenian-to-Georgian translators:
Zachary Kakonashvili, a resident of Surami, an Armenian priest.
• It looks as if Armenians have already been established in
Qartli, in Surami in particular, for a long time, they are well
adapted to the Georgian environment – they know the Georgian
language, possibly even better than Armenian and have taken
up Georgian names – Bezhan, Mamuka, Shaqrua etc. They also
seem to have surnames in Georgian style – Kakona-Shvili;
Zachary has a favourable attitude towards Georgians, he
wishes well to both Georgians and Armenians and prays for
King Erekle’s wellbeing.
