Defense of a Master’s Degree Thesis
On September 25, Giorgi Gabunia, a student enrolled in the master’s program of Theology at Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, defended his master’s degree thesis on the topic: “The History of the Term Theotokos (Θεοτόκος)”.
Professor Edisher Chelidze, Doctor of Philology and Theology, Academician of Gelati Academy of Sciences, was the supervisor of the thesis. The Reviewer was Doctor of Theology, Priest Ioane Bondarenko. Linguistic assessment of the work was executed by Doctor of Philology Qetevan Gvazava.
The Dean of the Academy, Archpriest Ioane Kvanchiani addressed the audience with his welcome speech and introduced the agenda.
The session was chaired by the Rector of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Professor, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze.
The master’s degree student introduced the main propositions of his thesis to the Commission and the audience. He noted that the qualification paper, which consisted of an introduction, two main parts and a conclusion, represented a discussion of issues related to the theological understanding of the term “Theotokos” (Θεοτόκος) according to the teachings of the Holy Fathers.
Professor Edisher Chelidze, Academician of Gelati Academy of Sciences, addressed the audience with his speech. He noted that while working at the thesis, the graduate student had collected all the sources and scientific material related to the topic.
Professor Edisher Chelidze also emphasized the relevance of the work both from theological and philological points of view.
The master’s degree thesis was positively evaluated by the reviewer, Doctor of Theology, Priest Ioane Bondarenko, who noted that Mr. Giorgi Gabunia had translated many Greek texts into Georgian, which showed the talent and hard work of the student seeking the master’s degree. The reviewer also elucidated that the remarks made to the graduate student had been considered while preparing the paper.
Giorgi Gabunia comprehensively answered the questions put by the Chairman of the Commission, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze and members of the Commission.
Noteworthy opinions and positive evaluations were expressed by Archpriest Teimuraz Tatarashvili, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of History; Professor Gvantsa Koplatadze, Doctor of Philological Sciences, and Doctor of Philological Sciences Qetevan Gvazava.
The Commission for Defense of Master’s Theses, under the chairmanship of the Rector of TTAS Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze, evaluated Mr. Giorgi Gabunia’s thesis with the highest score and unanimously awarded him the degree of Master of Theology.