On July 8, 2024, at the session of the Theological Dissertation Council of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Rati Sturua, a doctoral student of the Doctoral Program of Dogmatic Theology, presented to the audience his thesis, titled: Old Georgian Translation of the Teachings of Saint Mark the Monk (a philological and theological analysis).
The defense of the thesis took place in the hall of the Center for Spiritual and Intellectual Development of Youth located in the Patriarchate of Georgia.
Giorgi Zviadadze, Deputy Chairman of the Dissertation Council, Rector of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Professor, Protopresbyter of the Orthodox Church of Georgia addressed the audience.
The
Chairman of the Dissertation Council is the Catholicos-Patriarch of
All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.
Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze spoke about the importance of the establishment of the Doctoral Department and its Dissertation Council at Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary and, in this regard, about the greatest contribution of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.
“Without the great efforts and authority of His Holiness and Beatitude the Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, neither the Dissertation Council nor the doctoral program could have been established at Tbilisi Theological Academy,” noted Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze.
The
scientific supervisor of the thesis was Doctor of Theology and
Philology, Academician of Gelati Academy of Sciences, Professor
Edisher Chelidze.
The reviewers were - Doctor of History and Theology, Professor,
Archpriest Giorgi Gugushvili and Doctor of Theology, Priest Tsotne
Chkheidze.
The session of the Dissertation Council was led by Doctor of History, Professor, Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze) of Manglisi and Tetritsqharo. Doctor of Theology, Professor, Archdeacon Demetre (Davitashvili) was the Secretary to the Dissertation Council.
The defense of the thesis was attended by: Metropolitan Andria (Gvazava) of Gori and Athens; Metropolitan Stepane (Kalaijishvili) of Chkondidi; Metropolitan Ioane (Gamrekeli) of Qutaisi and Gaeneti, Rector of Gelati Theological Academy and Seminary; Archpriest Irakli Akhaladze and other clergymen; the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Academician Roin Metreveli; Professor of Tbilisi State University, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Academician Elguja Khintibidze; Rector of Sukhumi State University, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Zurab Khonelidze; Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazeti Ruslan Abashidze; Professor of the Georgian University of Saint Andrew the First-Called, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Vakhtang Guruli; Chairman of the State Language Department, Giorgi Alibegashvili; Doctor of Economics, Professor Vakhtang Sartania, members of the Dissertation and Academic Councils of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, professors and students.
Before presenting the thesis, the doctoral student Rati Sturua expressed his special gratitude to the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II with whose great authority and blessing the Dissertation Council and the doctoral program was founded at Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary.
He thanked the Rector of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Protopresbyter of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, Giorgi Zviadadze for the benevolent and, at the same time, highly academic environment created at the school.
Rati Sturua spoke comprehensively about the main issues discussed in the thesis.
The official reviewers of the dissertation positively evaluated his work, giving meaningful and qualified advice and opinions.
A scientific discussion was held in which the members of the Scientific Council, professors and teachers of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary and the representatives of scientific circles participated. Everyone unanimously confirmed that the work was done at a high academic level, underscoring its importance both from the ecclesiastical and scientific points of view.
The Dissertation Council evaluated Rati Sturua’s qualification thesis with the highest score and unanimously awarded him an academic degree of Doctor of Theology.
