RELATIONS OF PAVLENISHVILIS WITH THE MONASTERY OF THE CROSS OF JERUSALEM

Abstract

In medieval period many Georgian noble houses had close ties with the churches and monasteries in the Holy Land. Most notably, the noble houses were linked with the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem, which is attested in the funeral repast documents kept in this powerful centre of spirituality and knowledge. Apart from the information in the funeral repast documents, we encounter other documented and narrative sources which prove the relations of the Pavlenishvili noble house with the Monastery of the Cross. During the second half of the 16th century the Pavlenishvili noble house had two important ecclesiastical figures: Epiphane and Barnaba. Both who had close relations with the Monastery of the Cross. Barnaba Pavlenishvili was the archbishop of Tbili and he had also served as the “Father of the Cross” (i.e. bishop of the Monastery of the Cross) for some time. Epiphane, a relative of his, also headed the monastery, but first supposedly had served as a head of Nikozi Eparchy. Later on he became a bishop and then the “Father of the Cross” in Jerusalem. On top of his ecclesiastical duties, Epiphane also conducted diplomatic work.