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A Dialog Between Freedom and Civilizations in the Epistles of the Beatified Catholicos the Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilea II

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A Dialog Between Freedom and Civilizations in the Epistles of the Beatified Catholicos the Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilea II Demuri Jalaghonia, (Georgia), PhD, Professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Humanities; Head of the Academic-Research Institute of Philosophy; Head of the Chair for Political Philosophy A Dialog between Freedom and Civilizations in the Epistles of the Beatified Catholicos the Patriarch of all Georgia, Ilea II “Who does not seek a friend he is the enemy of himself” Shota Rustaveli Interest towards the opportunity of a dialog between freedom and civilizations is increasing daily. But how this dialog is possible if these categories are to some extent mutual bounding, and at the same time they imply dilemmas (discussions) in themselves. How much the freedom phenomenon is possible to be explained in the civilizations dialog context? To find an answer to this question I will have to change the course of the traditional way of research in order to demonstrate the concept of the problem. To find a “decision” of the problem we decided to use and depend upon a very interesting and original idea given in the epistles of one of the great theologians Iliai II. As Samuel Hantington writes: “the world policy in entering a new phase and intellectuals have already begun to express their concepts about what the end of the world history will be. Will it carry back the traditional opposition between states or will they be weakened against the background of globalization? Why has the subject of a civilization dialog been generated in the order of day? Scholars say that in global policy only nation-states will occur as the most important participants of the world phenomena though main conflicts will take place among different nations and groups. In the judgment of experts in global policy there will be a collision of civilizations. We must define what we mean by civilization. Civilization is the highest cultural group of people and the highest form of people cultural self-actualization which distinguishes him from other animated things. Civilization is defined by means of common objective elements such as: language, history, religion, traditions and institutes and subjective self-determination. Here we must comprehend that the people self-determination has diversified levels. Firstly we must be aware that the differences are real and basic. They differ by their history, language, culture, traditions and what is the main thing – their religion. iIrakli Shiolashvili was born on 4 January, 1933. When he was 24 years old he was ordeined a monk by Father Zinobii and was given the name of Ilia. In 1960 he graduated from the Zagorsk Ecclesiastical (Spiritual) College. The same year he defended a qualification thesis:” The History of the Athon - Monastery of Iveria” and was assigned a candidate of theology. The same 1960 year he became a Father Superior, in 1961 became an Archimandrite. On 25 of August of 1963 Archimandrite Ilia was assigned a Bishop. In 1969 he became his Eminence the Metropolitan. On 25 December, 1977 he was elected the Catholicos the Patriarch of all Georgia. From 1978 to 1983 he was the President of the World Church Committee. In 1997 The Georgian Orthodox Church left the World Committee. These differences are more basic than those existing between political ideologies or political regimes. Differences do not mean conflicts. Conflicts on their part do not implicate act of violence though the differences between civilizations are the reasons for the longest and bloodiest conflicts during many centuries. (3-11) At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century we still have the most complicated and unsolvable questions: who are we? Where do we come from? What is our destination, and where do we go to? Catholicos the Patriarch Ilia II with his divine philosophic judgment tries to profoundly show in his epistles the concept of the problem which stands before the mankind and gives original analyses of the problem according to Christian approach. The philosophic judgment of Ilia II is based on three treasuries: God, Native Country and a Man. Theologically the Native Country is understood as the God’s dwelling place belonging to both “you and me”. As the Man is firstly “mine,” a Man close to “you” – society, mankind. In his epistles he writes that all the three treasuries are unified in a triad, and they cannot exist without each-other, all his theological, spiritual, moral, theoretical and practical activity runs in the vector of this triad. “God, Love, Notion and he himself talks with love in his eternal prayers teaches us to achieve unification with God, with our native country and our countrymen. Naturally there arises a question how it is possible to systemize this triad into one whole, unification of religion and the knowledge. We must say that Georgia has a deep tradition of this unification, and to restore this tradition that is «the Guelatian thinking” here appears Ilia II in the 20th century. In XI and XII centuries when there was a”golden period” in Georgia the king David IV the Builder built Guelati Academy2. The Guelati theological-philosophic Academy became a New Jerusalem and the second Athena, a spiritual and scientific research center. It was the temple of intellect and faith. Guelati Academy continues the eastern theology of Alexandian School (from where the Alexander exegeses of the Holy Scripture originates) and the Cappadocia Patristic the line in the history of Christian thoughts: Clement from Alexandria who formulated the principle of the ecclesiastical doctrinal statement and knowledge harmony based on the Holy Scripture. Origene who explained Christianity in ellinistic thought categories established Christian philosophy views (opinion) of the Cappadocia Holy Fathers and Areopagus from his first experiments which represents a wonderful model of faith and knowledge harmony (4.10) 1,David IV the Builder (24. 01. 1073 – 1125) from 1089 – 1125 the King of Georgia from the Bagratian Dynasty, one of the most successful Georgian monarch was canonized to saint by Georgian orthodox church. 2. Guelatu Monastery- an architectural complex of Georgia. It was built in 1106 by David IV the Builder. The complex includes Academy which is in ruins today, about 300square meter, David IV the Builder is buried there. It is included in the list of UNESCO cultural monuments, Clement from Alexandria always acknowledged the synthesis of faith and science i.e. of “Jerusalem and Athena” with his whole life and works. He attached importance to faith in first place and afterwards to the science based on faith. According to him we must seek God and our life holy notion on the crossroad of the faith and the intellect. He divides the Christians into two groups based on the New Testament. The first are the slaves of god. These are the believers that have primitive knowledge of the faith who consider the Holy Scripture in a simple way; they do not profoundly regard its sacral idea and are satisfied with the stories and symbols in a straight understanding. The second group consists of agnostics, philosophers (scientists) who by means of their faith and knowledge are on the higher spiritual and mystical understanding level. He calls them the friends of God. The Patriarch Ilia II says: a man must pass a way of perfection, from the being the God’s slave to the God’s friend if he wants to find his place and destination in this world. (2.161) The main motive power for such a man is not a desire to receive a decoration or punishment but impartial love of God and desire to do good. Such person is free from envy, fear, evil and other passions. He loves all the people and tries to make them come closer to God. This is the principle of Guelati understanding. Guelati became a symbol for Georgian national idea and this was considered the strength of Georgian statehood. That time as today in Georgia all the religion Christian, Judaist, Islamic, Gregorian temples coexisted, and there had never occurred any confrontation among them. A Georgian had always been able to lead a dialog of cultures. The base of such dialogues had always been the very principle of Guelati understanding. Catholicos the Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II is the one who stimulates the revival of this understanding and continues the path lead by the King David and Grigol Khandzteli. Georgia is situated on the merge of Asia and Europe, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, on the South of the Caucasian Range, our country was the crossroad for traders between the East and the West. Because of its geopolitical location this territory had always been the interest for such countries as Urartu, Media, Turkey, Arab, Persia, Mongolia, Osmals, Rome, Greece and Russia. Thousands of Georgians shed their blood to protect their Fatherland. Our Holy and Devine Ilia II says: we may say that Georgia is one of miracles having in mind its survival from all the dangers it has suffered and it still has its individuality, nationality, uniqueness. Of course it was God’s mercy and the gift which fills Georgians hearts with particular love, courage, selflessness, fidelity. Georgians spare no effort to please a stranger, everything he has he wants for the guest. There is a word in Georgian: “sautskhoo” (sa-means “for” and “utsxo” means a “stranger” so in all it can be translated as “for a stranger”) but it means the most wonderful, beautiful, the best. There is a saying which reflects the way of our living: “Guest belongs to God” is he a Christian, or not; a Georgian or some other nationality, an enemy or a friend and if he is your guest you should treat him like God with respect and this is your family dignity.(2.214) Such approach in a Georgian character comes from a great respect of Christian faith and love.
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