X საუკუნის ქართული და ბულგარული ჰიმნოგრაფიის ისტორიიდან
From the History of the 10th-century Georgian and Bulgarian Hymnography

Summary/Abstract: In this paper, using the method of comparative analysis, one very interesting pheno- menon in the history of the 10th-century Georgian and Bulgarian hymnography has been considered. The tenth century is the time of strengthening national self-consciousness in the history of Georgia. At this period several branches of Georgian ecclesiastical writing reach their peak of evolution, including Christian poetry – hymnography. In Georgian hymnography a special place is occupied by Ioane Minchkhi who lived and worked in the first part of the 10th century. The revealing of Minchkhi’s unknown heritage by us – 77 hymns, testifies to the fact that he was the first Georgian “Lenten Triodion” compiler and editor. By composing the first Georgian “Lenten Triodion” Ioane Minchkhi created a new epoch in the history of Georgian hymnography. All redactions of the later period are based on the first Georgian “Lenten Triodion”. Ioane Minchkhi is the only author among Georgian hymn-writers who has done work of such scope and complexity. Along with the hymns translated from Greek this collection comprises more than 100 hymns written by Ioane Minchkhi himself, including all small-sized hymns for “Lenten Triodion”. Thus, Ioane Minchkhi is the author of the whole Sticherion part of the first Georgian “Lenten Triodion”. These hymns which represent the masterpiece of Christian poetry are created with account of strict requirements of this collection. Along with big traditionalism they are also characterized by great originality. Merging of these two factors gives to Ioane Minchkhi’s poetry uniqueness. By introducing more than 100 hymns for “Lenten Triodion” Ioane Minchkhi added original Georgian layer into “The Lenten Triodion” of Byzantine type. In Georgian hymnography it is considered the only case of “Nationalisation” of hymnographic collection translated from Greek. Generally, such kind of thing is less expected in the history of this one of the most canonic branches of ecclesiastic writing - hymnography. It is noteworthy that in Ioane Minchkhi’s hymnographical canon which is devoted to St.Giorgi, there is mentioning of king Giorgi expressed with great benevolence. This must have been the king of Western Georgia, i.e. king of Abkhazia – Giorgi I who is referred to in “The Life of Kartli”. The name of this king is associated with the foundation of Chkondidi Episcopate.

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