Utilisateur:AlexandreAssatiani/Vlakernoba

Vlakernoba
Vlakernoba en 2012
Observé par	Église orthodoxe géorgienne
Type	Célébration religieuse
Signification	Vénération de la Sainte Tunique de Sainte Marie
Date	15 juillet
Célébrations	Parade, messe
Observances	Prière, communion
Lié à	Calendrier liturgique orthodoxe

Signification

• This is the day when the holy relic is taken out of storage of Dadiani Palace History and Architectural Museum and available for the public to pay their respects.
• It commemorates the placing of the holy robe of St Mary to the St. Mary Vlakerna Icon Church (http://www.gov.ge/print.php?gg=1&sec_id=440&info_id=56692&lang_id=ENG)
• It's the only day when the relic is available to the public (https://mod.gov.ge/en/news/read/5908/vlaqernobis-dgesascauli)
• St Mary is seen as a protector of Georgia and the legend says she was offered to preach there (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)
• Saint Nino is said to have gone to Iberia in a vision of Saint Mary (https://www.religionenlibertad.com/mundo/44459/quiere-usted-ver-la-tunica-de-la-virgen-maria-cada-verano.html)
• According to Gerasime, this is the holiest day in the Orthodox world (https://www.timer.ge/zugdidshi-vlaqernoba-anu-ghvthismshoblis-kvarthis-sakhalkho-dghesastsauli-aghinishneba/)
• In 2018, Gerasime asked authorities to declare it a public holiday. In 19 July 2020, MP Merab Kvaraia asked for it to be declared a work-free holiday in Zugdidi as part of Labor Code amendments (https://reginfo.ge/people/item/18237-vlaqernoba-zugdidshi-uqme-dged-unda-gamozxaddes-%E2%80%93-majoritari-deputati?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=3359918730d76a322489cfb6745550b276ce4ab5-1601045504-0-AQgtBtYEpmgdC9T7oGJBUZm530gqE1IRRRfF_sXcXXBr70hEZEZx_cnD7Q51XRTYWJk2PVLJc797Kd_1jYGC5w2uCwtbFyS20XXNLyZmkdQm9949azlo02_6YoENi9JO0oYxNOkf8wgl4jnP39OJj_Qn4s0jPQKIAQy2z9a70Q0ydNrnumO5PJg8iLM7pC3qvotRgOwJxqIj5aDOV8quRICIVsccOguMBZoGDA8uooHWIvHvqfFhHCGfZZmi-_yqPx5S-6K_CYGGdHJ8lmcHGF_hQdCUeppDCCz7L2kggoZWSkN4TMC3rjCaG0CTviHEMG1MzOdNceQLi6PqdlNpqztu9S5Bbyawb-kqpEMUQ_2VtgL7r4LwzvVUt3PI5lr-bmhySMbm_BBIUAS2v8VHt_pEByBr-DDfw0IFKDAIUVNmUKIIRy3ssZyQWO4vtJUBOH0eKMVMcNuqCw4P0h7pW2NUPqcqabwyH0BPo0C060wPljCZD2f9Tp-RRhyFE7Dj2NSnjKQfpsvy0Nay6Fj91CeSKPW85uPa1qxJ52GKfPFbNcflrdlt8eN7xnjQdPYm4P7M_G4505oGx7n5WN25mJqx8geUrIO2qd3sUQQ3LSs-nYimURt3wjrfJUxG8kAfiQ)

Étymologie

• The name is linked to the Vlakerna Icon of St Mary Church (or vice versa?) (http://www.gov.ge/print.php?gg=1&sec_id=440&info_id=56692&lang_id=ENG)
• Vlakerna is Georgian for Blachernae (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)
• Vlakernoba is called in the name of Blachernae - a district in the former Constantinople where the Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae resides. It is believed that the robe of the Virgin Mary, as well as her icon, was brought to Zugdidi from there. (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)

Lieu

• Takes place in Zugdidi (https://1tv.ge/en/news/vlakernoba-celebrated-zugdidi-photostory/)

Histoire

• Metropolitan Gerasime of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Germany and Austria, together with the clergy, has conducted the ceremony since at least 2015 (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)
• From 2012, during the event, the holy robe was carried into the new cathedral of Iberian Theotokos.
• Vlakernoba is celebrated since the 1990s.
• Pilgrims from arount the world were reported in 2019 (http://szs.gov.ge/eng/news/show/10/2369)
• It was 'restored' by a blessing of Ilia II in 1990 (https://mod.gov.ge/en/news/read/5908/vlaqernobis-dgesascauli)
• It is believed that the robe of the Virgin Mary, as well as her icon, was brought to Zugdidi from there. (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)
• Services resumed in the church in 1990 with the blessing of Ilia II. It first took place at the church next to the palace named after the relic and built by Levan V.
• In 2012, the main service was moved to the cathedral.
• It became a public holiday in the second half of the 19th century (https://www.livepress.ge/ka/sazogadoeba/article/35081-vlaqernoba-dghesastsaulis-istoria-dadianebis-arqividan-video-foto-.html)
  • When Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky toured Georgia in the early 20th century, he took pictures of the celebrations.
  • He described at the time that Orthodox from around the world would participate.
  • In the years 1854-1900, the following can be seen as priests of the Vlacherna Church : 2. Priest Tevdore Khoshtaria 3. Priest Egnate Jikia 4. Priest Mikheil Jikia 5. Priest Davit Molashkhia 6. Prichetnik Ioane Todua 7. Prichetnik Solomon Getia_8. Prachetnik Platon Jikia 9. Pretchenik Nestor Pavles Chikhladze 10. Prachetnik Lavrenti Lazare Khoshtaria.
  • In 1923, the church was closed and became a puppet theater and then an art studio. For some time, there was a Museum of Local Lore.

La relique

• The Museum gathered several relics and icons from across the country between 1923 and 1936 (https://www.religionenlibertad.com/mundo/44459/quiere-usted-ver-la-tunica-de-la-virgen-maria-cada-verano.html)
  • The relic is usually exhibited along with bones of St George and John the Baptist
  • The tunic is said to have been kept in a Greek church until the 5th century when it was handed over to Leo the Thracian, who had a monastery built for it in Constantinople.
  • Tradition says that the relic saved Constantinople against two invasions, one against the Arabs and once against Egyptians.
  • Sources show that the tunic stayed there until at least the 14th century.
  • Sometime after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, an archbishop is said to have brought it to Georgia to protect it from Ottomans
  • It was first kept in the Dadiani Palace
  • Then moved to Khobi Monastery
  • Then returned to the Palace in 1936
  • In 1891, it was stolen by bandits. The entire population searched for it. Three days later, it was found when a supernatural light shined toward it in the forest.

• The Cult of the Mother of God in Byzantium: Texts and Images (https://books.google.ge/books?id=DyEOW_R6RhUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=vlakernoba&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisl9bA_4PrAhWww4sKHQDuBYYQ6AEwB3oECAkQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false)
  • It may be that the garment at the Blachernai was not a tunic but a garment she wore above the tunic (44-45)
  • It was often represented covering the whole city of Byzantium or the entire earth (44)
  • The Church was probably built in the 470s by the empress Verna (45)
  • A cathedral was built in its place by Justin I and renovated by Justin II (45)
  • It seems it was transported from Palestine to Byzantium by the patricians Galbius and Candidus (45)
  • Some Byzantine paintings showed it purple (44)
  • But when Patriarch Segios opened its casket, it turned out that it was wrapped in a purple imperial cloth, and the tunic itself was a lot more plain (45)

• https://www.timer.ge/zugdidshi-vlaqernoba-anu-ghvthismshoblis-kvarthis-sakhalkho-dghesastsauli-aghinishneba/
  • During the reign of Emperor Leo I (457-474), brothers Galbius and Candide, close to Leo, traveled to Palestine.
    • They were both senators (https://safiqreti.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/%E1%83%95%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9C%E1%83%9D%E1%83%91%E1%83%90-_-%E1%83%93%E1%83%94%E1%83%93%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A6%E1%83%95%E1%83%97%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1/)
  • There, they were attracted to a house that emmitted lighted candles insense scents. There was a woman in the house
    • They stayed in the house at night (https://safiqreti.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/%E1%83%95%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9C%E1%83%9D%E1%83%91%E1%83%90-_-%E1%83%93%E1%83%94%E1%83%93%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A6%E1%83%95%E1%83%97%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1/)
  • She guarded the relic, which had been responsible for many miracles and healigns.
  • According to the legend, The Virgin Mary gave her robe to a Jewish virgin with the instruction of having it passed on virgin to virgin in that tribe to preserve its holiness.
  • The brothers brought back the robe in a precious ark and had it preserved at a temple named after Peter and Mark in Constantinople
  • On July 2, 469 , St. Gennady of Constantinople transferred the relics placed in the new ark to Vlacherna and placed it with its holy omophorion and part of his belt .
  • There are various traditions on how it arrived to Georgia
    • According to folklorist Kalistrate Samushia, who used unknown resources, the relic went to the Georgian Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem after the fall of Constantinople. When Levan II Dadiani financed its rehabilitation, he brought back Nikoloz Cholokashvili from that monastery to become the abbey of the Kortskheli Monastery. Cholokashvili worked in the Khobi monastery in 1632-1657. Because Georgia could no longer patronize the Monastery of the Cross due to financial hardships, Dadiani convinced Nikoloz to bring back the relic to Georgia.
      • This is supported by the fact that many contemporaries described Mingrelia's holiness, including Ambassador Zakhariev of Russia (1640), Paul Lamberti, Patriarch Macarius of Antioch, Paul of Aleppo, Giuseppe Maria Zampi, Alex Ievlevi, Cesar Tolchanov, and Don Kristephore de Castel.
      • George Dadiani entrusted the relic to George XII, his father-in-law, but after his death, it was taken to Russia by Prince David. Nino Bagration, the princess of Samegrelo, received permission to return it to Samegrelo from Emperor Alexander I.
      • Alexander I adorned the relic with precious stones, a special inscription and ordered the construction of a church named after the relic of Vlacherna in Samegrelo, as well as a city named after Prince Gregory. The church was finalized in 1830 by Levan V Dadiani and the relic was moved to Zugdidi from the Monastery of Martvili. The church is what's next to the Dadiani Palace.
        • In 1804, Nino Bagration sent a delegation to Russia to ask for the relic. In 1806, the relic was brought back with 2,000 gold coins for the construction of the church. (https://www.livepress.ge/ka/sazogadoeba/article/35081-vlaqernoba-dghesastsaulis-istoria-dadianebis-arqividan-video-foto-.html)
          • The icon remained in Zugdidi until 1919.
          • In 1919, Ekvtime Takaishvili took the icon of the robe to Tbilisi, which he was given by Vladimer Alshibaia, the curator of the Dadiani Palace
          • Takaishvili then took that icon abroad with the Georgian national treasure.
          • When the treasure was returned to Georgia, the icon was placed in the Shalva Amiranashvili State Museum of Art
  • Other traditions claim that it came during the 8th century's iconoclasm. (https://www.allnews.ge/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%98%E1%83%9C%E1%83%A2%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%94%E1%83%A1%E1%83%9D/164645-%E1%83%96%E1%83%A3%E1%83%92%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%93%E1%83%A8%E1%83%98-%E1%83%95%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9C%E1%83%9D%E1%83%91%E1%83%90-%E1%83%90%E1%83%A6%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98%E1%83%A8%E1%83%9C%E1%83%94%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9D%E1%83%92%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A0-%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9D%E1%83%AE%E1%83%95%E1%83%93%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A6%E1%83%95%E1%83%97%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%9B%E1%83%A8%E1%83%9D%E1%83%91%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%99%E1%83%95%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%97%E1%83%98-%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%97%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A8%E1%83%98.html)
  • Others believe it arrived from Jerusalem in the 12th century.
  • Kartlis Tskhovreba mentions it as having been there from time immemorial.

• https://www.livepress.ge/ka/sazogadoeba/article/35081-vlaqernoba-dghesastsaulis-istoria-dadianebis-arqividan-video-foto-.html)
  • The robe itself is made of flax and decorated with flowers, which faded overtime. It was kept in a box made by Levan II Dadiani in 1640 for his wife, who took it in every hike she went to.
  • The robe was kept in the museum safe during the Soviet era.
• https://safiqreti.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/%E1%83%95%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9C%E1%83%9D%E1%83%91%E1%83%90-_-%E1%83%93%E1%83%94%E1%83%93%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A6%E1%83%95%E1%83%97%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1/
  • According to Platon Ioseliani, Heraclius Cesar gifted it to Georgia, although this information is doubtful, especially as there are accounts of Russian pilgrims praying to it in Constantinople in the 14th century.
  • According to Kartlis Tskhovreba, George Gurieli stole it in the 17th century
  • Nino Bagration dedicated the icon and sent it to Alexander, who adorned it, in 1805.
  • The icon itself is kept in the Georgian State Museum of Art

Date

• Celebrated every year on July 15

Célébration

La marche

• On this day, the robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary is taken from the Tower of Virgin of the Queen Palace (now a museum), where it is kept, to the Cathedral of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God.
• Pilgrims from all over the world have the opportunity to touch, kiss and honour the garment. (http://www.gov.ge/print.php?gg=1&sec_id=440&info_id=56692&lang_id=ENG)
• In 2015, hundreds participated (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)

Messe en cathédrale

• During the feast thousands of the faithful from all over the world are able to venerate the holy relic upon the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
• From 2012, during the event, the holy robe was carried into the new cathedral of Iberian Theotokos.
• Gerasime leads the mass (http://szs.gov.ge/eng/news/show/10/2369)

Traditions

• There is a chant and song festival called Vlakernoba (http://georgiatoday.ge/news/640/First-International-Festival-of-Regional-Theatres-Held-in-Georgia)

Effets sur Zougdidi

• Main annual event for Zugdidi
• The President called Zugdidi and Mtskheta the two holiest places in the country because of Vlakernoba (https://www.president.gov.ge/eng/pressamsakhuri/siakhleebi/%E2%80%8Bsaqartvelos-prezidenti-gvtismshoblis-kvarti-chven.aspx)
• July 15 was used as a date to launch the First International Festival of Regional Theaters in Poti, in honor of Vlakernoba, in 2015. (http://georgiatoday.ge/news/640/First-International-Festival-of-Regional-Theatres-Held-in-Georgia)

Aspect politique

• PM Kvirikashvili attended it in 2016 (http://www.gov.ge/print.php?gg=1&sec_id=440&info_id=56692&lang_id=ENG)
• In 2019, the Governor, local reps and the MP of Zugdidi attended (http://szs.gov.ge/eng/news/show/10/2369)
• In 2020, the President attended with a face mask https://www.president.gov.ge/eng/pressamsakhuri/siakhleebi/%E2%80%8Bsaqartvelos-prezidenti-gvtismshoblis-kvarti-chven.aspx
  • She said it unites us with Abkhazia
• In 2017, it was attended by MOD Levan Izoria and MOE Giorgi Gakharia (https://mod.gov.ge/en/news/read/5908/vlaqernobis-dgesascauli)
• In 2015, it was attended by PM Gharibachvili, MOC Misha Giorgadze (https://agenda.ge/en/news/2015/1573)
  • Gerasime said then that Vlakernoba was an opportunity to forge ties between Tbilisi and the de facto authorities
  • Gharibashvili said one day Abkhazians and Georgians would celebrate Vlakernoba together
• In 2018, PM Bakhtadze, MOD Izoria and MIA Gakharia participated (http://szs.gov.ge/eng/news/show/10/1848)

Aspects socio-économiques

• The President called on the GNTA and the GOC to work together to develop religious tourism toward Vlakernoba (https://www.president.gov.ge/eng/pressamsakhuri/siakhleebi/%E2%80%8Bsaqartvelos-prezidenti-gvtismshoblis-kvarti-chven.aspx)
• The Municipality of Zugdidi spent between 2014 and 2016 nearly 30,000 GEL (https://www.transparency.ge/en/blog/property-and-funds-allocated-religious-organizations-samegrelo-and-zemo-svaneti-over-2014-2016)
  • 280,000 GEL on the construction of the cathdral
  • The Community of Zugdidi spent GEL 9 599.3 in 2015 for the Vlakernoba celebration
  • 400 GEL for the purchase of marching flags
  • 10,000 GEL in 2016 for a festive dinner dedicated to the celebration.

Comparaisons

• The Visit Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti page compares it to Turin and its Shroud (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1151956198523376)