GAIUS THE IBERIAN – FIRST EVER RECORDED GEORGIAN TO BE BAPTIZED

Abstract

With the Apostles scattered everywhere, the Christian institutional structures started to work. With the lower classes pouring into, they became very much socialized. With becoming so socialized, Christianity shaped itself as a real danger to the constitutional order. An immediate solution of the problem combined both, administrative measures and mystification. The latter was that of Mithraistic. Socialistic upstart, but then being put totally under the state-control thus passing the red colour towards recently emerged Christianity, Mithraism was destined to lure proletariat to enter its well-cenzored ranks. Even Mithras’ birthday was fixed on the 25th of December to strengthen that confusion between Christianity and Mithraism. Then Mithraistic evidences from a site also carry a possibility of Christians being well-established right there. For Lazica at the East Black Sea Coast with St. Andrew moving across Greek and Georgian narrative account and besides – a plenty of Mithraistic artefacts. Mithras as equestrian from Trapezus was worshiped there mostly. With also St. Andrew’s tale but already an apocriphic one, Iberia (East and South Georgia) still possesses somewhat not very clear Mithraistic evidences. More arguments are needed for Early-Christian communities being active there. We have one, perhaps, also sophisticated. Bronze plate from Platea, Central Greece, offers 40 male names, mostly Greek, few GraecoRoman. The positions are only for some of them and all they are Christian. The plate is thought to present early-Christian community of Platea. Gaius the Iberian is its member.