Georgievsky treatise of 1783 general description of the agreement. Georgievsky treaty was signed (in the fortress of St. George) by the Georgian king Erekle II on the entry of Georgia under the protection of Russia. Final decision on the issue
Already in 1721, negotiations began on joint actions. For Russia, the Georgian army was only an auxiliary force, but, apparently, Volynsky promised Vakhtang a lot, almost a permanent alliance and patronage, which was so desired in Georgia. Impressed by these promises, Vakhtang decides to break off relations with Persia.
But something happened that was not expected in Georgia - Peter canceled the campaign.
The consequences were tragic. The Shah outlawed Vakhtang, the Lezgi army ravaged Tbilisi. Taking advantage of this, the Turkish army occupied Kartli and Kakheti. The Turkish occupation lasted until 1734.
Turkish War 1768-1774
In the 1920s, clerics and entire classes sent a request for help to the Russian government, but without consequences. At one time, the idea arose to resettle the Georgians on North Caucasus(on the Terek), but this proposal was not accepted. In Georgia, they could not understand the pragmatic policy of Russia, and, in spite of everything, they believed in its help. There was even a legend that Peter indicated in his will: "Georgia is unhappy, defend it for the sake of faith, send it an army ...", but the intrigues of the courtiers prevented his will from being fulfilled.
The situation changed when the Russo-Turkish War approached. At one of the meetings of the Council, it was decided to raise the entire Christian population of the Balkans, Greece and Georgia against Turkey. The Collegium of Foreign Affairs compiled "a discussion on the ways in which the Georgians may be inclined to perceive participation in the real Ottoman war with Porto." Thus began the second attempt at rapprochement, which failed, but became the first step towards the Treaty of St. George. Sending the Totleben expeditionary force to Georgia, Panin explained to the general the essence of the upcoming war: "there would be a local soul, but a Georgian body." The project of a joint campaign from the very beginning was doomed to failure: it was impossible to coordinate the actions of the regular Russian and irregular Georgian army. Despite a number of victories, Catherine II, in general, was unhappy with the results. In Georgia, they hoped that it would at least be mentioned during peace negotiations with Turkey - then it was called "include in the treatise." But this was not done either. The Treaty of Kainarji concluded on July 20, 1774 by Kuchuk did not mention a word about the Kakheti and Kartli kingdoms. (The words "Georgia" in paragraph 23 of the treatise mean its Western, Turkish part).
Even during the stay of Russian troops in Georgia, shortly before their recall, Tsar Erekle II sent Catherine a written submission on the conditions on which he wished to enter under the protection of Russia. With this document, he sent his son Levan and brother, Catholicos Anthony. He asked “to honor us now with such patronage, so that everyone ... can see that I am an exact subject Russian state and my kingdom is added to Russian Empire". Heraclius proposed those forms of dependence that had previously been dependent on Iran. He offered to send one of his sons, several princes and nobles as a hostage to the Russian court. The population pays the Empire 70 kopecks from the yard, sends annually 14 best horses, 2000 buckets of wine, and also supplies soldiers to Russia. It was from this "representation" that the treatise of St. George was subsequently formed.
The offer was rejected. On February 8, 1773, Panin informed Heraclius about this (“strange and not at all timely proposals,” he wrote). In 1774, Catherine announced by letter that military aid Georgia is currently disadvantageous, although she promised to demand guarantees of Georgia's security from Turkey.
Conclusion of an agreement
Main political significance Treaty of Georgievsk was to establish a protectorate of Russia in relation to Eastern Georgia, sharply weakening the positions of Iran and Turkey in the Transcaucasus, formally destroying their claims to Eastern Georgia.
Treatise in 1783-1787
From the moment of conclusion, the Treatise operated without interference for 3-4 years. However, then began a strong opposition from Turkey. Under her influence, the raids of the Lezgins and the Akhaltsikhe Pasha became more frequent. Russia protested, but they did not have the desired effect. Moreover, Turkey demanded that Russia cancel the Treaty of Georgievsk and tear down the fortifications of Vladikavkaz. As a result, in 1787 Russian troops were withdrawn from Georgia. There are two versions of the reasons for this conclusion.
Version #1
According to this version, Georgia was the first to violate the treaty by entering into separate negotiations with the Turks. Accordingly, Russia withdrew troops upon the cancellation of the treaty.
Thus, the king retreated from the treatise, starting negotiations with the Turkish authorities. In December 1786, Heraclius wrote to Pavel Potemkin: ... and so that we do not reach the real extreme, then for this we send two princes to the pasha to approve the agreements“ .
Potemkin was extremely alarmed: “... extremely grieving that your highness and the advice of your nobles are allowed to fulfill the requirements of Soleyman Pasha of Akhaltsikhe ... I humbly ask your highness to consider all the requirements of Soleyman Pasha, the goal and all his relations with you. From the very moment he began to have correspondence with your highness, his demands were as follows: 1. To shake your loyalty to Russia by deceiving you with various imaginary benefits; 2nd To withdraw the Russian troops from Georgia and get rid of formidable defenders, to clear it of defense; for if our troops were not formidable to them, he would not have needed to seek their withdrawal from Georgia ... I advise you, for your benefit, I earnestly ask you not to give up your amanats, for by doing so you will offend the dependence you have sworn on and bring harm to your own kingdom.
But, despite the warnings of P. Potemkin, the terms of article 4 of the Treaty of St. George, Tsar Heraclius concluded an agreement with Pasha, which was ratified by the Sultan in the summer of 1787 (just during the war between Russia and Turkey). From that moment on, the Treaty of St. George became invalid. Russian troops had to leave Georgia, on October 26, 1787, Russian troops were already in Vladikavkaz. This point of view is voiced, in particular, in the article by A. Epifantsev.
Version #2
According to the second version, Russia withdrew its troops because it made concessions to Turkey. Not wanting at that moment to bring the matter to war, she withdrew the battalions, sent the Georgian ambassador from St. Petersburg and agreed to tear down the fortifications of Vladikavkaz.
A. V. Potto writes about the same thing:
The two battalions left in Georgia could not be of significant use in the event of a new enemy invasion, but they themselves could easily fall victim to it. And since there was absolutely nothing to reinforce them with, Colonel Burnashev was ordered to leave Tiflis and return to the Line. At the same time, all the fortifications built by Potemkin along the road to Georgia were destroyed. Russia's first attempt to firmly establish itself in Georgia thus ended in failure.
D. Zhukov adheres to the same version. ZD Avalov writes that Russia considered it more reliable for Georgia to secure itself "by resuming its former alliances, which were destroyed only by the presence of Russian troops in the country." In other words, at that time the Treaty of Georgievsk turned out to be unprofitable for Russia.
According to the first version, the king of Georgia violated the Treaty of St. George and, thereby, left Georgia without protection from the troops of Aga-Magomed Khan. In fact, the treatise was in effect in the autumn of 1795. On September 4, 1795, Catherine ordered to “reinforce Tsar Heraclius, like a Russian vassal, against hostile attempts on him, stipulated by the treatise with them two full battalions of infantry." After 8 days, Tbilisi was destroyed by the troops of Agha-Magomed Khan. General Gudovich received the order of the Empress only on October 1.
In St. Petersburg, on June 24, 1800, the Georgian embassy handed over to the College of Foreign Affairs a draft document on citizenship. The first paragraph read: Tsar George XII "earnestly desires with his offspring, clergy, nobles and with all the people subject to him to once and for all accept the citizenship of the Russian Empire, promising to sacredly fulfill everything that the Russians do."
Manifesto of Paul I
In the autumn of 1800, the Georgian delegation made an attempt to propose to Russia a project of closer unity. On November 17, Prince Chavchavadze submitted a note and “petition points” on behalf of Tsar George. This proposal was considered in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs and on November 19 approved by the emperor on all counts.
On November 23, 1800, the emperor gave a rescript addressed to George XII on the acceptance of his kingdom into the citizenship of Russia, then he wrote "to us expressed, we accepted with our high monarchy favor and also honored our most merciful approbation of your petitions for accepting you into Our citizenship" .
George was promised to leave him royal rights until the end of his life. However, after his death, the Russian government intended to approve David Georgievich as governor-general with the title of king, and to classify Georgia among the Russian provinces under the name of the kingdom of Georgia.
Everything went to a bilateral agreement, which could be a legally irreproachable solution to the issue. However, 2 days before the audience, an imperial rescript to General Knorring followed. He was ordered to send troops to Georgia and, in the event of the death of Tsar George, not to appoint a successor until a special order. This order was contrary to the principles of the 1783 treatise, which left the issue of appointing an heir to the competence of the king of Georgia. On December 18, even before the arrival of the ambassadors in Georgia, a manifesto was signed on the accession of Georgia. Thus the issue was resolved in unilaterally, even before the death of Tsar George, which followed on December 28.
The envoys with “points” arrived in Georgia in early January, and on January 15, Prince David published an appeal: “I was commanded by the highest to approach the throne of Georgia by inheritance, in the rank of its ruler.” On January 18, the manifesto of Paul I was published in St. Petersburg. The text of the manifesto itself compiled somewhat vaguely and vaguely, without mentioning the fate of the Georgian dynasty.
Hereby we declare by our imperial word that after the annexation of the Kingdom of Georgia for eternity, under our state, not only will all the rights, advantages and property legally belong to everyone, but will enjoy those rights, liberties, benefits and advantages, which the ancient subjects of Russia, by the grace of our ancestors and Ours, enjoy under Our protection.
How difficult the issue was can be seen from the fact that the issue was considered at a meeting of the Council of Emperor Paul, and then for another six months at the advice of Alexander I.
Vorontsov and Kochubey proposed: to elect one of the princes to the kingdom according to the order of inheritance or on the basis of personal qualities, if necessary, remove other applicants, leave a certain number of troops in Georgia "for the food of the earth." It was also proposed to appoint a minister under the king.
Mission Knorring
The mission was entrusted to Knorring by Imperial Rescript on April 19, 1801. On May 22, Knorring entered Tbilisi, where he stayed almost all the time. The outcome of his mission was predetermined by the raising of the issue in the Council, he only solved the dilemma: complete submission or complete independence. And at that time there could be no talk of complete independence.
By the time Knorring arrived, Georgia had already been without power for half a year: Prince David was not allowed to proclaim himself king, but he was considered the approved heir. When the Russian soldiers swore allegiance to Alexander, the Georgians were not sworn in. The country suffered from anarchy, Lezgin raids and the consequences of the Persian invasion - General Tuchkov, who arrived in Tbilisi in those days, found the city still destroyed, with two whole streets. Knorring told Tuchkov in confidence that the annexation of Georgia had not yet been resolved.
"BUT given word and the duty of Russian sovereigns to protect Christians, especially those of the same faith, against the barbarism of the Mohammedans?“ I dared to object. “Now everything is a different system,” he answered.
“General Knorring could not find anything other than the confusion that he reported to the sovereign in a report .... he falls into the same mistake as other officers-observers: their eyes, accustomed to the order of the parade ground and the office, saw in Georgia only chaos and disorder.
After staying in Georgia for 22 days, Knorring returned to Pererburg and on June 28, 1801 submitted his report to the emperor. He spoke negatively to the question whether Georgia can stand without help and positively to the question of whether the Georgians unanimously desire citizenship.
final decision
... not for the increase of strength, not for self-interest, not for the expansion of the limits of the empire, which is so vast in the world, we will accept the burden of governing the Georgian kingdom. A single dignity, a single honor and humanity impose on us a sacred duty, heeding the prayer of the suffering, in averting their sorrows, establish direct government in Georgia, which could establish justice, personal and property security and give everyone the protection of the law.
Effects
A day after the announcement of the manifesto, a new government was opened. A few days later, Knorring, appointed as the ruler of Georgia, sent Tuchkov to the Dowager Empress Maria to take away all the royal regalia from her. Lezgin raids became more frequent, something like civil war: General Knorring himself was surrounded while leaving for Russia, and the Ossetians completely exterminated the Don Cossack regiment, following in Tbilisi. General Tuchkov writes that, standing with the army near Tbilisi, "did not have a single night of peace." The Lezgins destroyed an entire infantry battalion along with General Gulyakov. Knorring, as unable to handle the situation, was recalled and replaced by Prince Tsitsianov. The restless state of the region, together with the tactless and even selfish acts of Kovalensky, finally hardened the Georgians. The people, before only thinking about how to get rid of the members of the royal house, again turned to their side. Rumors began to reach Emperor Alexander from everywhere about the disorderly administration of the Transcaucasian region, and on September 8, 1802, by the highest command, both Knorring and Kovalensky were recalled, and Lieutenant General Prince Tsitsianov was appointed commander-in-chief in Georgia.
In order to suppress the unrest, the command Russian army began to arrest members of the royal family. During the arrest of the Dowager Empress Maria, General Lazarev was mortally wounded with a dagger. Those arrested under a strong escort were sent to Vladikavkaz, local residents tried to interfere with the movement of the convoy and the detachment fought its way through the Caucasus Range.
In general, the consequences of the treaty for Georgia were twofold: on the one hand, the country was spared from raids from Turkey and Iran, on the other hand, it lost its independence (later even ecclesiastical). The unrest in the country subsided over time as it was mainly a protest against the methods and form of incorporation, but not against incorporation as such.
Notes
- GEORGIAN KING VAKHTANG VI IN ASTRAKHAN: PAGES OF THE HISTORY OF RUSSIA'S SECRET DIPLOMACY
- Runiverse
- Z. D. Avalov, Accession of Georgia to Russia
- Article 23: “In a part of Georgia and Mingrelia, the fortresses of Bogdadchik, Kutatis and Shegerban, conquered by Russian weapons, will be recognized by Russia as belonging to those to whom they belonged from ancient times, so that if these cities were truly from ancient times or from a long time ago were under the possession of the Brilliant Porte, then will be recognized as belonging to her; and after the exchange of this treatise, at the agreed time, Russian troops will withdraw from the aforementioned provinces of Georgia and Mingrelia.
- TsGVIA USSR (RF), f.52, op. 1/194, file 416, part 1, l 21 and rev.
- TsGVIA USSR (RF), fund 52, op 1/194, file 416, part 1, sheet 26-28
- TsGVIA USSR (RF), f.52, op. 1/194, file 416, part 1, sheets 26-28, 30 and rev. 31 and vol.
- Was Georgia an ally of Russia?
- V. A. Potto, "The Caucasian War"
- Dmitry Zhukov Independent Georgia: a bandit in a tiger skin
- A. Tsagareli. “Charters and Other Historical Documents of the 18th Century Relating to Georgia” vol. 2, no. 2., 1902 p. 287-288
- A. Tsagareli. Letters, vol. II, no. II. 1902 p. 292-294. Note of the Georgian envoys of princes G. Chavchavadze, G. Avalov and E. Palavandov dated June 24, 1800.
- N. Dubrovin. George XII - last king Georgia. St. Petersburg, 1897. p. 165.
- Acts of the Caucasian Archaeographic Commission, vol. I. p. 181.
- S. A. Tuchkov, From Notes. "Caucasian war: origins and beginning", St. Petersburg. 2002"
- PSZRI, vol. XXVI, p. 772; cf.: Acts of the Caucasian
background
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Georgia was cut off from the entire Christian world, and a little later it was actually divided between Turkey and Iran, and survived by maneuvering between these two states. She managed to achieve an acceptable, and sometimes even privileged position in these states, but the religious barrier was an insurmountable obstacle to final integration. At this time, hope for Russia's help gradually formed. The first attempts at rapprochement took place as early as the 17th century, but without serious consequences. The first real attempt at a long-term union with Russia occurred in the era of Peter I.
Iranian War of 1722
In 1720, A. Volynsky was appointed governor of Astrakhan. He was instructed to persuade the Georgian king Vakhtang to the side of Russia. Persia was going through a period of crisis and Peter was preparing his Persian campaign. Already in 1721, negotiations began on joint actions. For Russia, the Georgian army was only an auxiliary force, but, apparently, Volynsky promised Vakhtang a lot, almost a permanent alliance and patronage, which was so desired in Georgia. Impressed by these promises, Vakhtang decides to break off relations with Persia.
But something happened that was not expected in Georgia - Peter canceled the campaign.
The consequences were tragic. Shah outlawed Vakhtang, Dagestan [ ] crowds devastated Tbilisi. Taking advantage of this, the Turkish army occupied Kartli and Kakheti. The Turkish occupation lasted until 1734.
Turkish War 1768-1774
In the 1920s, clerics and entire classes sent a request for help to the Russian government, but without consequences. At one time, an idea arose to resettle Georgians in the North Caucasus (on the Terek), but this proposal was not accepted. In Georgia, they could not understand the pragmatic policy of Russia, and, in spite of everything, they believed in its help. There was even a legend that Peter indicated in his will: "Georgia is unhappy, defend it for the sake of faith, send it an army ...", but the intrigues of the courtiers prevented his will from being fulfilled.
The situation changed when the Russo-Turkish War approached. At one of the meetings of the Council, it was decided to raise the entire Christian population of the Balkans, Greece and Georgia against Turkey. The Collegium of Foreign Affairs compiled "a discussion on the ways in which the Georgians may be inclined to perceive participation in the real Ottoman war with Porto." Thus began the second attempt at rapprochement, which failed, but became the first step towards the Treaty of St. George.
Sending the Totleben expeditionary force to Georgia, Panin explained to the general the essence of the upcoming war: "there would be a local soul, but a Georgian body." The project of a joint campaign from the very beginning was doomed to failure: it was impossible to coordinate the actions of the regular Russian and irregular Georgian army. Despite a number of victories, Catherine II, in general, was unhappy with the results. In Georgia, they hoped that it would at least be mentioned during peace negotiations with Turkey - then it was called "include in the treatise." But this was not done either. The Kuchuk-Kainarji treaty, concluded on July 20, 1774, did not mention a word about the Kakheti and Kartli kingdoms. (The words "Georgia" in paragraph 23 of the treatise mean the Western, vassal part of Turkey). Recognizing the vassalage of Zap. Georgia (Imereti) from Ottoman Empire, thus Russia prevented the reunification of Georgia into a single state, and the union agreement of the kings (kings) of Kartl-Kakheti Erekle (Irakli) II and Imereti Solomon I of 1773 remained unfulfilled.
Even during the stay of Russian troops in Georgia, shortly before their recall, Tsar Erekle II sent Catherine a written submission on the conditions on which he wished to enter under the protection of Russia. With this document, he sent his son Levan and brother, Catholicos Anthony. He asked "to honor us now with such patronage, so that everyone ... can see that I am an exact subject of the Russian state, and my kingdom is added to the Russian Empire." Heraclius proposed those forms of dependence that had previously been dependent on Iran. He offered to send one of his sons, several princes and nobles as a hostage to the Russian court. The population pays the Empire 70 kopecks from the yard, sends annually 14 best horses, 2000 buckets of wine, and also supplies soldiers to Russia. It was from this "representation" that the treatise of St. George was subsequently formed.
The offer was rejected. On February 8, 1773, Panin informed Heraclius about this (“strange and not at all timely proposals,” he wrote). In 1774, Catherine, by letter, announced that military assistance to Georgia was currently unprofitable, although she promised to demand guarantees of Georgia's security from Turkey [ ] .
Conclusion of an agreement
Commemorative medal, 1790
Under the treaty, Tsar Erekle II recognized the patronage of Russia and partially renounced independent foreign policy, pledging to serve the Russian Empress with their troops. Catherine II, for her part, acted as a guarantor of the independence and integrity of the territories of Kartli-Kakheti. Georgia was granted complete internal independence. The parties exchanged envoys.
The treaty equalized the rights of Georgian and Russian nobles, the clergy and merchants (respectively).
Of particular importance were 4 secret articles of the treaty. According to them, Russia undertook to defend Georgia in case of war, and during peace negotiations to insist on the return of the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom of possessions that had long belonged to it (but were torn away by Turkey). Russia undertook to keep two infantry battalions with 4 guns in Georgia and, in case of war, to increase the number of its troops.
At the same time, the Georgians were urged to maintain unity and avoid internecine strife, for which Heraclius II had to make peace with the king of Imereti Solomon I.
The main political significance of the Treaty of Georgievsk was the establishment of a Russian protectorate in relation to Eastern Georgia, sharply weakening the positions of Iran and Turkey in the Transcaucasus, formally destroying their claims to Eastern Georgia.
Treatise in 1783-1787
From the moment of conclusion, the Treatise operated without interference for 3-4 years. However, then a strong opposition from Turkey began. Under her influence, the raids of the Dagestanis and the Akhaltsikhe Pasha became more frequent. Russia protested, but they did not have the desired effect. Moreover, Turkey demanded that Russia cancel the Treaty of Georgievsk and tear down the fortifications of Vladikavkaz. As a result, in 1787, Russian troops were withdrawn from Georgia, which was a flagrant violation of the terms of the treaty and thus actually denounced it. There are two versions of the reasons for this conclusion.
Version #1
According to this version, Georgia was the first to violate the treaty by entering into separate negotiations with the Turks. In September 1786 Suleiman Pasha of Akhaltsi sent a letter to King Erekle II of Georgia with a proposal to conclude a separate peace treaty.
From the report of Colonel Burnashev to Pavel Potemkin:
His Highness ... intends to send the amanats (hostages) required in Akhaltsikhe to Pasha, apologizing that he was forced to this by his subjects and by the urgent need to get rid of the ruin of his lands on the Turkish side. On this I had the honor to report to His Highness that after the conclusion of the treaty of the 4th article with Georgia, in the case of sending envoys or letters from neighbors, it is necessary to agree with the chief border commander, and even more so in this circumstance, which requires diligent consideration«.
Thus, the king retreated from the treatise, starting negotiations with the Turkish authorities. In December 1786, Heraclius wrote to Pavel Potemkin: ... and so that we do not reach the real extreme, then for this we send two princes to the pasha to approve the agreements“ .
Potemkin was extremely alarmed: “... extremely grieving that your highness and the advice of your nobles are allowed to fulfill the requirements of Soleyman Pasha of Akhaltsikhe ... I humbly ask your highness to consider all the requirements of Soleyman Pasha and all his relations with you. From the very moment he began to have correspondence with your highness, his demands were as follows: 1. To shake your loyalty to Russia by deceiving you with various imaginary benefits; 2nd To withdraw the Russian troops from Georgia and get rid of formidable defenders, to clear it of defense; for if our troops were not formidable to them, he would not have needed to seek their withdrawal from Georgia ... I advise you, for your benefit, I earnestly ask you not to give up your amanats, for by doing so you will offend the dependence you have sworn on and bring harm to your own kingdom.
But, despite the warnings of P. Potemkin, the terms of article 4 of the Treaty of St. George, Tsar Heraclius concluded an agreement with Pasha, which was ratified by the Sultan in the summer of 1787 (just during the war between Russia and Turkey). From that moment on, the Treaty of St. George became invalid. Russian troops had to leave Georgia, on October 26, 1787, Russian troops were already in Vladikavkaz. This point of view is voiced, in particular, in the article by A. Epifantsev.
Version #2
According to the second version, Russia withdrew its troops because it made concessions to Turkey. Not wanting at that moment to bring the matter to war, she withdrew the battalions, sent the Georgian ambassador from St. Petersburg and agreed to tear down the fortifications of Vladikavkaz.
A. V. Potto writes about the same thing:
The two battalions left in Georgia could not be of significant use in the event of a new enemy invasion, but they themselves could easily fall victim to it. And since there was absolutely nothing to reinforce them with, Colonel Burnashev was ordered to leave Tiflis and return to the Line. At the same time, all the fortifications built by Potemkin along the road to Georgia were destroyed. Russia's first attempt to firmly establish itself in Georgia thus ended in failure.
D. Zhukov adheres to the same version. ZD Avalov writes that Russia considered it more reliable for Georgia to secure itself "by resuming its former alliances, which were destroyed only by the presence of Russian troops in the country." In other words, at that time the Treaty of Georgievsk turned out to be unprofitable for Russia.
According to the first version, the king of Georgia violated the Treaty of St. George and thereby left Georgia without protection from the troops of Agha-Magomed Khan. In fact, the treatise was in effect in the autumn of 1795. On September 4, 1795, Catherine, after long delays, finally ordered to “reinforce Tsar Heraclius, like a Russian vassal, against hostile attempts on him, stipulated by the treatise with them two full battalions of infantry." After 8 days, Tbilisi was destroyed by the troops of Agha-Magomed Khan. General Gudovich received the order of the Empress only on October 1.
In St. Petersburg, on June 24, 1800, the Georgian embassy handed over to the College of Foreign Affairs a draft document on citizenship. The first paragraph read: Tsar George XII "earnestly desires with his offspring, clergy, nobles and with all the people subject to him to once and for all accept the citizenship of the Russian Empire, promising to sacredly fulfill everything that the Russians do."
Manifesto of Paul I
Handwritten copy of the manifesto
In the autumn of 1800, the Georgian delegation made an attempt to propose to Russia a project of closer unity. On November 17, Prince Chavchavadze submitted a note and “petition points” on behalf of Tsar George. This proposal was considered in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs and on November 19 approved by the emperor on all counts.
On November 23, 1800, the emperor gave a rescript addressed to George XII on the acceptance of his kingdom into the citizenship of Russia, then he wrote "to us expressed, we accepted with our high monarchy favor and also honored our most merciful approbation of your petitions for accepting you into Our citizenship" .
George was promised to leave him royal rights until the end of his life. However, after his death, the Russian government intended to approve the heir to the throne, David Georgievich, as governor-general with the title of king, and to rank Georgia among the Russian provinces under the name of the Georgian kingdom.
Everything went to a bilateral agreement, which could be a legally irreproachable solution to the issue. However, 2 days before the audience, an imperial rescript to General Knorring followed. He was ordered to send troops to Georgia and, in the event of the death of Tsar George, not to appoint a successor until a special order. This order was contrary to the principles of the 1783 treatise, which left the issue of appointing an heir to the competence of the king of Georgia. On December 18, even before the arrival of the ambassadors in Georgia, a manifesto was signed on the accession of Georgia. Thus, the issue was resolved unilaterally, even before the death of Tsar George, which followed on December 28.
The envoys with "points" arrived in Georgia in early January, and on January 15, Prince David published an appeal: "I was commanded by the highest to approach the throne of Georgia by inheritance, in the rank of its ruler." On January 18, the manifesto of Paul I was published in St. Petersburg. The text of the manifesto itself was drawn up somewhat vaguely and vaguely, without mentioning the fate of the Georgian dynasty.
Hereby we declare by our imperial word that after the annexation of the Kingdom of Georgia for eternity, under our state, not only will all the rights, advantages and property legally belong to everyone, but will enjoy those rights, liberties, benefits and advantages, which the ancient subjects of Russia, by the grace of our ancestors and Ours, enjoy under Our protection.
How difficult the issue was can be seen from the fact that the issue was considered at a meeting of the Council of Emperor Paul, and then for another six months at the advice of Alexander I.
Vorontsov and Kochubey proposed: to elect one of the princes to the kingdom according to the order of inheritance or on the basis of personal qualities, if necessary, remove other applicants, leave a certain number of troops in Georgia "for the food of the earth." It was also proposed to appoint a minister under the king.
Mission Knorring
“General Knorring could not find anything other than the confusion that he reported to the sovereign in a report .... he falls into the same mistake as other officers-observers: their eyes, accustomed to the order of the parade ground and the office, saw in Georgia only chaos and disorder.
After spending 22 days in Georgia, Knorring returned to St. Petersburg and on June 28 submitted his report to the emperor. He spoke negatively to the question of whether Georgia can stand without help, and positively to the question of whether the Georgians unanimously desire citizenship.
final decision
On August 8, 1801, a regular meeting of the Council on the issue of Georgia was held. Time worked for the "imperial" party: according to the reports of Russian envoys, during the year of anarchy, Georgia has already lost any semblance of a state. In addition, the clumsy justification of the annexation was used by allegations that “in the world” Georgia was already considered part of Russia and it was inconvenient from the point of view of the dignity of the empire to retreat from annexation.
The meeting heard a report by Knorring and a report by Vorontsov and Kochubey. The Council sided with Knorring. It was said that it was necessary to preempt the Turks and Persians, who were capable of capturing Georgia, and that joining would help "to curb the predatory mountain peoples." Kochubey insisted on his opinion: in his closing speech, he drew attention to the danger of expanding the borders, to the injustice of annexation from the monarchist point of view, and insisted on maintaining the vassal position of Georgia. Nevertheless, the Council decided the issue of accession in the affirmative.
Alexander still hesitated. On August 12, he received a note from V. Zubov and sent it to Novosiltsev for consideration. On August 13, the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Unspoken Committee. The members of the committee were still against it, but Alexander gradually leaned towards the Council's decision.
Meanwhile, the Georgian plenipotentiaries were still trying to ensure that "the annexation of Georgia, voluntary in essence, was indeed such in form." They sent notes to the emperor with their proposals and generally wished that the decision on the issue of Georgia would be made in their presence as representatives of the voluntarily annexed Georgian people. But no one was interested in their opinion.
“ Georgievsky treatise “
Beginning of the annexation of Georgia to Russia
On August 4 (July 24, according to the old style), 1783, the Treaty of St. George was concluded on the patronage and supreme power of the Russian Empire over the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti
« The accession of Georgia to Russia was a political event of paramount importance. It is from the time of this accession that Russia embarks on a path that, perhaps, will lead her to the shores of the Persian Gulf. The future is always guessing, but the possibility of such a future is enough, it is enough to have what Russia now has beyond the Caucasus, in order to see the full significance of the event, from which, in fact, the spread of Russian possessions in this part of Asia begins» , - so at the beginning of the 20th century, the future ardent separatist Zurab Avalov, who ended his days in Germany, being a henchman of Hitler, wrote about the significance of the annexation of Georgia to Russia.
From the history of the Georgian state
Georgia - ancient state on the ground. The first state mentioned on the territory of Georgia was the Kingdom of Colchis. It is mentioned for the first time in the middle of the first millennium BC. Greek authors Pindar and Aeschylus. Later, Greek trading posts and colonies appeared in the Eastern Black Sea region - Phasis (modern Poti), Pichvnari (Kobuleti), Gienos (Ochamchira), Dioscuria (Sukhumi), Pitiunt (Pitsunda), etc.
First century BC The Kingdom of Colchis is part of the Kingdom of Pontus, and then - the Roman Empire. In the second century, the Laz kingdom (Egrisi) arose in Western Georgia, from the modern city of Tuapse to the borders in the south with the Roman Empire. 1st-4th centuries n. e. - Christianity spreads in Georgia, it becomes the state religion in 337. At the beginning of the 6th century Tbilisi became the capital of Kartli.
Later, the territory of Georgia becomes an arena of struggle between Iran, Byzantium, and the Arabs, who alternately establish their dominance over it. Large feudal states arise - the Kingdom of Abkhazia (all Western Georgia), Tao-Klarjeti (south), Kakheti and Hereti (east), Kartli (center), the struggle between which ends in the 10th-11th centuries with the unification of Georgian lands into a single feudal state headed by with Tsar Bagrat III.
XI - XII centuries - the period of greatest political power and the flourishing of the economy and culture of feudal Georgia. In the XII century, cultural, economic and political relations were established with the Orthodox Kievan Rus. Painters from Georgia participated in decorating the main church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra with mosaics, and marriage unions began to be concluded between Russian and Georgian princely families (in 1185, the son of Vladimir-Suzdal Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, Yuri, and the Georgian Queen Tamara entered into marriage).
Queen Tamara
The political power of the country was based on a highly developed agriculture and a flourishing urban economy (crafts, trade).
In the second half of the 14th century, the invasion of Tamerlane dealt a fatal blow to the newly growing Georgia. By the end of the 15th century, internecine struggle led to the disintegration of Georgia into independent kingdoms - Karli, Kakheti and Imereti. Fragmentation is becoming more and more intense and Georgia becomes the arena of the struggle between Iran and Turkey for dominance in the Transcaucasus (Georgia was then called Gurjistan in the Arab Muslim world).
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Georgia was cut off from the entire Christian world, and a little later it was actually divided between Turkey and Iran, and survived by maneuvering between these two states.
At this time, hope for Russia's help gradually formed. The first attempts at rapprochement took place as early as the 16th century. So, in 1586, under Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, Georgia was formally accepted into the Russian state, and the royal title was added: "Sovereign of the Iberian land and Georgian kings."
Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich
However, Russia's geopolitical position at that time did not allow any effective assistance to be provided to the Georgians. The situation changed only after the defeat of the Crimean Khanate and annexation of Crimea to Russia , and after the Kartli-Kakheti king Erekle II once again turned to Catherine II with a request to take Georgia under the protection of Russia, the empress entrusted lieutenant general Pavel Sergeevich Potemkin (a distant relative of Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin of Tauride) with all powers to conclude an agreement. From the Georgian side, princes Ivane Bagration-Mukhransky and Garsevan Chavchavadze acted as authorized representatives.
Heraclius II
According to the agreement, Tsar Erekle II recognized the patronage of Russia and partially renounced an independent foreign policy, undertook to serve the Russian Empress with his troops. Catherine II, for her part, acted as a guarantor of the independence and integrity of the territories of Kartli-Kakheti. Georgia was granted complete internal independence. The parties exchanged envoys.
Palace of Erekle II in Telavi
The treaty equalized the rights of Georgian nobles, priests and merchants with Russian representatives of the respective estates.
Of particular importance were the four secret articles of the treaty. According to them, Russia undertook to defend Georgia in case of war, and during peace negotiations to insist on the return to the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom of possessions that had long belonged to it, but were torn away by Turkey.
Russia pledged to keep two battalions of infantry in Georgia and, in case of war, to increase the number of its troops. At the same time, Georgians were urged to maintain unity and avoid internecine strife, for which Irakli II had to make peace with the Imeretian king Solomon I.
Georgian prince
Georgievsky treatise
The main political significance of the Treaty of Georgievsk was the establishment of a Russian protectorate over eastern Georgia. This protectorate sharply weakened the positions of Iran and Turkey in the Transcaucasus, formally destroying their claims to Eastern Georgia. In 1783, in connection with the conclusion of the Treaty of St. George, the construction of the Georgian Military Road between Georgia and Russia began, along which several fortifications were built, including the fortress of Vladikavkaz.
However, the effect of the treaty did not last long: in September 1786 Suleiman Pasha of Akhaltsikhe sent a letter to King Erekle II of Georgia with a proposal to conclude a separate peace treaty. Despite the terms of Article 4 of the Treaty of Georgievsk, Tsar Heraclius concluded an agreement with Pasha, which was ratified by the Sultan in the summer of 1787.
It happened just before the start of the next Russian-Turkish war: On August 13 (24), 1787, the Port declared war on Russia, and the Turkish flotilla attacked two Russian ships that were stationed near Kinburn.
Under these conditions, the peace of Heraclius with Turkey could not be assessed otherwise than as a betrayal, and Lieutenant General Potemkin ordered the Russian units to be withdrawn from Georgia.
The departure of the Russian troops was not slow to have an effect: while we were at war with Turkey, the Persians, the former rulers of Georgia, raised their heads. In 1795, the Persian Shah Agha Mohammed attacked Georgia, putting forward its alliance with Russia as a pretext, defeated the army of Tsar Erekle II in the Battle of Krtsanisi, then entered the Georgian capital without a fight and subjected it to complete defeat: the majority of the population was killed, and 22 thousand people , mainly women and children, were driven into slavery.
Agha Muhammad Khan
Battle of Krtsanisi
Heraclius again sent tearful prayers to Russia, and in April 1796, the 13,000th Caspian Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Valerian Zubov moved from Kizlyar to the Azerbaijani provinces of Iran. On May 10, Derbent was taken by storm; on June 15, Baku and Cuba were occupied without a fight.
Valerian Alexandrovich Zubov
In November, Russian troops reached the confluence of the Kura and Araks rivers. However, on November 6, 1796, Catherine died, and with her the projects for the conquest of Iran were a thing of the past. Only a small detachment of General Rimsky-Korsakov remained in Georgia, but even that was withdrawn at the beginning of 1797. Georgia was again left to its own fate, and only the death of Aga Mohammed, who was killed by a blow to the head with a melon by his own servant, who was jealous of the shah for one of his concubines, saved the Georgians from a new terrible invasion.
Upon the death of Heraclius II, which followed on January 11, 1798, Georgia, which had just suffered the pogrom of Aga Mohammed, remained in the most distressful situation, being outside under the threat of invasion by the Turks, Persians and Lezgins, and inside being torn apart by unrest and the struggle for succession. The legitimate heir of Heraclius was the eldest son from his second marriage, George XII.
George XII
Having ascended the throne, George did not have sufficient strength and firmness to resist the internal turmoil that flourished around him. His stepmother, Queen Daria, who had even forced Heraclius to divide the whole kingdom into destinies not in favor of George and his offspring, now became the center of intrigues and plotted with the aim of completely removing the offspring of George from the throne. She and her sons did not want to recognize the supreme power of the king and sought protection in Persia.
In these difficult circumstances, in order to finally calm down the homeland, exhausted by an overwhelming struggle with enemies, and at the same time foreseeing all the difficulty to keep the throne behind his home, George asked Emperor Paul I to accept Georgia into eternal Russian citizenship and send troops to protect it from enemies and external , and internal. The emperor ordered the commander of the Caucasian line, Lieutenant General Knorring, to send the seventeenth chasseur regiment to Tiflis, under the command of Major General Lazarev.
Karl Fedorovich Knoring
Together with the regiment, in the autumn of 1799, for a permanent stay in Georgia as a minister plenipotentiary, the State Councilor Kovalensky also went, carrying the crown and other signs of royal investiture to the king, since all the precious regalia used during the coronation of Georgian kings were stolen during the invasion Agi Mohammed.
Despite the late season, the cold and snow blizzards that raged on the pass through the Main Caucasian Range, the regiment successfully completed a difficult campaign and on November 26, on the very day of George's namesake, approached Tiflis. His meeting was accompanied by extraordinary solemnity. Tsar George himself, together with the heir to the throne, the princes and a large retinue, received him with bread and salt outside the city outpost.
And a year later, on November 23, 1800, the emperor gave a rescript addressed to George XII on the acceptance of his kingdom into Russian citizenship.
Monument in Moscow
The rapprochement between Russia and Georgia was in the interests of both states. Back in 1771, at the height of the Russian-Turkish war, the Georgian king Heraclius sent an embassy to St. Petersburg with a proposal to conclude an agreement on the transfer of Kartli and Kakheti under the protection of Russia. But St. Petersburg, fearing the prolongation of the war with Turkey, then did not dare to sign such an agreement. After 10 years, a more favorable situation has developed. Preparing to end the fight against the Crimean Khanate, the Russian government wanted to have a loyal ally in the Transcaucasus. Since December 1782, correspondence began between Heraclius II and Catherine II, and in the spring of 1783 a draft treaty was developed, which then formed the basis of the Treaty of Georgievsk, which was signed shortly after the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
According to the Georgievsky treatise, the Georgian king Erekle II undertook not to recognize any other power, except for the power and patronage of the Russian sovereigns. From now on, the monarchs of Russia approved the Georgian tsar, who ascended the throne, and he took an oath of allegiance to them. Eastern Georgia renounced independent relations with foreign states and accepted Russian mediation in settling disputes with Western Georgia (Imereti). The king of Kartli and Kakheti retained "power, coupled with internal control, court and reprisal, and the collection of taxes." In turn, Russia assumed obligations to promote the unification of all Georgian lands, to protect the East Georgian kingdom and send two battalions there, and in case of war - other troops. On November 3, 1783, the Russian detachment was solemnly welcomed in Tiflis, and on November 23, Erekle II swore allegiance to Russia.
It was a painful blow to both Turkey and Iran (Persia), who competed for the possession of the Transcaucasus. The signing of the treaty was greeted with enthusiasm by the Georgian people. In Tiflis, wrote G.A. Potemkin, his envoy, Colonel Burnashev, “the people’s masquerade walked the streets, all the inhabitants in general and the most elderly incessantly clasped their hands while beating tambourines, and it seems that the people day by day imagine a new prosperity in sight.” In the palace of Heraclius II, a solemn dinner was given, accompanied by cannon fire. For the health of Catherine II, 101 shots were fired, for members of the Russian imperial family - 51 shots, for Tsar Heraclius - 51 shots, members of his royal family- 31 shots. Immediately after the signing of the treatise, the commander of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, P. Potemkin (a relative of the famous field marshal), sent out a "universal" throughout the Caucasus, which said: his lordship forever allied and patronized by Russia, removed from all harmful against his enterprises.
FOR SUCH MONARSHIES YOUR FAVORS
APPEAL OF HERAKLIY II TO CATHERINE II WITH A REQUEST TO ACCEPT HIS COUNTRY UNDER THE PROTECTION OF RUSSIA
Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna, All-Russian Autocrat, Most Merciful Empress.
Your Majesty's most merciful decrees commanded us to be received under your most merciful Majesty's patronage and to send troops to reinforce us.
For such monarchs, your graces offer our most humble gratitude, and your majesty most humbly dare to ask that it be most mercifully led to send us a search in a short time, so that by the mercy of your majesty we can be delivered from the infidels, and grant us troops numbering four thousand regulars, or in that number, half of the irregular, and order it to be especially in our regions, so that I could act together with them against the Turks; for the Russian troops that used to be with us did not have time to always be with us. Moreover, I have to follow, as far as possible, our advice to the chief commander over these troops sent, so that this chief commander also accepts my advice, since I have sufficient information about the state and circumstances of local affairs.
Since our ancestors were kings from ancient times, therefore, Your Majesty ask you to command me most graciously, so that I and my descendants will forever remain without a change in my dignity, but nevertheless under obedience and in rendering Your Imperial Majesty such services as are described below. The Catholicos also has to remain in his rank without change. As with the help of God and the happiness of Your Majesty, many of the Georgians, being prisoners in the Crimea, received their freedom, therefore, Your Majesty, with all mercy, I dare to ask, command them to be allowed to return to their fatherland. When Your Imperial Majesty's troops arrive in our regions and we, together with them, take back our regions taken from us by the enemies, meanwhile, how much money will be spent on this corps, of those conquered places in a few years, we have a lot of money in Your Majesty's treasury we raise.
Your Majesty to represent and bother, although for no small boldness I admit the following, however, when the troops first of this from Russia entered Georgia, then at that time I was forced to spend money in transporting them, and moreover, when I repeatedly collected my troops, then We’ve had enough of the cost, and if there is money in demand, then I most humbly ask you to lend us money for the maintenance of our troops, which will again be contributed to Your Majesty’s treasury.
When, according to the above, favors are shown to us, then I have your imperial majesty to send one of my sons, as well as, if possible, several princes and nobles.
How many different ores and metals are now available in our region, as well as how many of them will be found in the future, then from the profit received from all those, half the number is given and collected to the treasury of Your Majesty. Also, all those townsfolk who are under our possession have to pay seventy kopecks annually from each yard to Your Majesty's treasury.
Each year, fourteen of the best available horses in our regions are sent to Your Imperial Majesty.
When the Persians and Turks owned us, then every two years they took nine slaves from our kingdom by force, and to supply them with seventy kopecks from each yard for travel. In addition, they received fifty packs of the best grape wine, which they took on their own to their sovereign. And now, for the court of Your Majesty, the best, which in our region there is two thousand buckets of grape wine in our own box, we will annually bring to Kizlyar.
From the arrival of your imperial majesty's troops in our regions to the conquest with help from other places, we owe your imperial majesty from those regions that we now own, according to our promises presented above to serve. And when we take possession of your majesty by force and other places, then they have to render their services to your imperial majesty as below.
When your majesty, by the strength and help of the corps, we still take over the places taken from us by the Turks, then the residents in those newly conquered places have to pay to the treasury of your imperial majesty, how much taxes are collected from the noble peasants in the Russian Empire, against onago in floors.
If, by the good fortune of Your Majesty, we still take possession of the places taken from us, then these places have to serve as it is written above, that is, to pay seventy kopecks annually from each yard, and from the same places we have Your Majesty send every year two hundred poods of cracks, and if it is possible for us, then more than that number.
Most Gracious Monarch! At the same time, I most humbly dare to report that this spring it was ordered to proceed with the conquest of the Akhaltsikhe region, and when peace follows with the Sultan, then do not leave it under Turkish possession, because this region of Akhaltsikhe lies on Georgian soil, the people there have the Georgian language and a lot of there are Christians there, and many of those who have recently turned into Mohammedanism.
When, by the good fortune of your imperial majesty, our possession will be freed from the infidels and will remain in peace, then both from our current ancient kingdom, and henceforth from the newly conquered places, we have soldiers from so many courts, from so many souls in The Russian Empire is recruiting. If, with the help of God and Your Majesty, with the happiness of our own lands taken from us, we will conquer other enemy areas with the help of Your Majesty, then we have to do with them, since Your Majesty’s permission will follow.
Your Imperial Majesty, we dare to most humblely ask for your royal favors to be rendered to us, and, moreover, we present from our side those very services of ours, about which we have been most humblely informed your Imperial Majesty on December 30, 1771, and which we recognize to render yourself able. And your imperial majesty now show us such motherly mercy to us, which of your highest majesty's will you yourself deign.
Heraclius
ARTICLE SECOND FOR TEN
This contract is made for all time; but if anything is seen to be necessary to change or add for mutual benefit, let it take place by mutual agreement.
OVER THE KINGS AND KINGDOM OF KARTALA AND KAKHETA
LETTER FROM CATHERINE II TO HERAKLIS II ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE GEORGIEV TRACT
His Serene Highness Kartalinsky and Kakhetian Tsar Irakly Teimurazovich, loyal and sincere to us. Having approved our imperial a charter agreement with your highness, decreed on the recognition by you of ours and successors of our imperial throne over the kings and kingdoms of Kartalinsky and Kakhetian supreme power and patronage and on the advantages and benefits bestowed from us to these rulers and peoples, we, on occasion, with pleasure repeat our certificates of our excellent goodwill to your highness and to everything royal house yours. As a new proof of this, we have granted the Most Serene Empress, your wife, the Order of St. Catherine, of which the signs are sent to lay on her. However, we entrust your highness with all your house to God Almighty. We are benevolent to you.
Authentic signed by Her Imperial Majesty's own hand taco:
Ekaterina
“Faith is the soul of the people; when it goes out among the people, then he
turns into a lifeless corpse, quickly
decaying, decaying"
St. Filaret, Archbishop of Chernigov
Dear brothers and sisters, welcome to our website!
On October 16, 1986, the central republican newspaper of Georgia "Kommunisti" published an article by the head of the archaeological expedition, Bokhochadze, which spoke about the plight of archaeological sites the late antique settlement of Dzalis, which existed from the 2nd century BC. BC. according to the IV century. n. e. in the Mukhrani Valley, not far from the ancient capital of Iberia, Mtskheta. It was also reported that the unique mosaic of Dzalisa was on the verge of destruction.The fate of the settlement Dzalisa so excited me that I decided to call my countrymen and tell them about the plight of this monument of world significance. I collected historical material about this monument, and soon, on January 11, 1987, on a frosty day, in a recreation center opposite the Pushkin Museum, I gathered many of my countrymen. It can be said with confidence that this was the first such meeting-meeting of my countrymen, the reason for which was the plight of a monument of ancient culture, which has global importance. We have decided to contribute to the rescue and restoration of this unique settlement. The Meeting held by us decided: 1. To promote the opening of a special account for the restoration and preservation of the ancient settlement Dzalis; 2. Conclude an agreement on the patronage of the Moscow public over this archaeological site.
Soon I went to Tbilisi on a special mission to conclude an agreement on the patronage of Dzalisa with the General Directorate for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments under the Council of Ministers of the GSSR and facilitate the opening of a special account for the restoration of this monument. Despite the efforts on my part, the account was not opened, but a patronage agreement was concluded between the Moscow public and the Main Directorate for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments.
Concern for Dzalis prompted me to officially create a public organization in Moscow that could study the centuries-old history of relations between the peoples of Russia and Georgia and preserve monuments of Russian-Georgian relations throughout Russia. But, at that time, in the USSR there was no legal basis for creating public organization, but we managed to create an Amateur Association for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Russia and Georgia, the founder of which was the Moscow branch of VOOPiK. It was decided to name the association "Dzalisa". We were temporarily provided by the Moscow branch of the VOOPiK with a mezzanine room at 23, Pokrovsky Boulevard, where the Moscow branch for the protection of historical and cultural monuments is now located. We, after a serious restoration carried out in 1989, solemnly opened the cultural and educational center of our Society.
In 1990, the first Georgian Orthodox community of St. vmch. George the Victorious in Georgians (Bolshaya Gruzinskaya St., 13). We turned for blessings to His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and, having received his approval, turned to His Holiness and Beatitude His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. Soon, we received a blessing from him as well. But then, it turned out that the building of the temple is not listed as a historical monument. We managed to prove its historical value by collecting archival documents. In 1991, we achieved the official inclusion of the Church of St. vmch. George the Victorious among the newly discovered monuments of history and culture, and our Orthodox Community was registered in the Krasnopresnensky district of Moscow.
In the same 1991, members of the Orthodox Community at the Church of St. vmch. George the Victorious in Georgia created and registered the Orthodox Brotherhood in the name of St. vmch. George the Victorious and St. equal to ap. Nina Enlighteners of Georgia. After that, we turned to President B.N. Yeltsin with a convincing request to expedite the transfer of the St. vmch. George the Victorious in Georgians, the Church Community and the established Orthodox Brotherhood. Open letter, containing this request, was published in the newspaper "Federation" dated April 15, 1992.
In 1992, we achieved the transfer of the church of St. vmch. George the Victorious in Georgians Church Community and Orthodox Brotherhood. In 1993, the Brotherhood established the Orthodox Gymnasium in the name of St. equal to ap. Nina Enlighteners of Georgia. In the same year, we created the Russian-Georgian community of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the village. Starodub, Kashirsky district, Moscow region. This Community received a blessing from Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, after the restoration of the temple, to conduct services in Russian and Georgian. To date, the temple as a whole has been restored, but some restoration work continues, and the service is held so far only in Russian. Not far from the temple, it is planned to build the building of an Orthodox Russian-Georgian gymnasium in the name of St. Nina and St. vmch. George. Over time, it is planned to create an International Spiritual, Cultural and Educational Center for Russian-Georgian Friendship, as well as a peasant economy for the needs of our societies.
In 1994, at the Variety Theatre, in 1995, in the concert hall of the Cosmos Hotel, as well as in some other Moscow halls, we held numerous charity concerts in order to raise funds for the restoration of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the Central House of Artists and other exhibition halls in Moscow, exhibitions and sales of paintings from the fund of the Amateur Association "Dzalisa" were held.
In 1998, our Society contributed to the 10th International Festival Orthodox music in Moscow, where the famous Georgian folk choir "Rustavi" performed. In 1999, our Society was one of the founders of the 11th International Orthodox Music Festival in Moscow.
In 1999, the Dzalisa Amateur Association was officially reorganized into the Dzalisa Russian-Georgian Friendship Society, which, together with the Amateur Association and the Orthodox Brotherhood, conducts extensive spiritual and educational work.
Today, our goal is to bring the Russian and Georgian peoples of the same faith closer together on the basis of centuries-old traditions of living together.
In 2000, with the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, the Dzalisa Society and the Brotherhood held a religious procession in honor of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ along the route Moscow-Vladikavkaz- Tbilisi-Mtskheta. In 2003, we held a procession in honor of George the Victorious along the same route.
In 2001, the Society established the title of “Honorary Member of the Dzalisa Society”. They were: Honored Art Worker of Russia and Georgia R.A. Janiashvili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Russia Z.I. Abashidze, President of the Republic of Ossetia-Alania A.S. Dzasokhov, entrepreneurs D.I. Iakobashvili, G.P. Kharchilava and others.
In 2006, the Dzalisa Society and the Brotherhood established the Order of St. equal to ap. Nina Enlighteners of Georgia four degrees. For six years, we have been awarded many famous people, among them were the highest clergy, famous statesmen and public figures, world famous figures of culture and science.
On June 3, 2011, we solemnly celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Dzalisa Society and the 20th anniversary of the Brotherhood. Then, we planned throughout 2012 to hold a festival of Russian-Georgian culture in Moscow, the Moscow region and in many cities of Russia, where the Georgian diaspora has been living for centuries.
Dear brothers and sisters!
T.I. D gendieri
,
President of the Russian-Georgian Friendship Society "Dzalisa"
Chairman of the Orthodox Brotherhood in St. Great Martyr George the Victorious and St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina the Enlightener of Georgia,
Cossack colonel, Academician MADENM
