Grigol Robakidze’s last will and testament

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28
Oct

Robakidze birthday

Bright, controversial, unique, talented, down-to-earth, daring, innovatory, ahead of his time, eternal – the list of words that could describe the personality of Grigol Robakidze might be endless. It seems impossible to embrace every aspect of his great legacy.

 

The Georgians praying at the Little Easter Temple inside Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit to MaiaN
The Georgians praying at the Little Easter Temple inside Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit: BRAMS

 

Grigol Robakide’s diaries reveal his modest desire, which the Georgians consider to be his last will and testament: "I have a wish: after I depart this life, every year in the fruit harvest month in which I was born, a Georgian mother would visit Mtskheta Cathedral to put a candle in front of the tiny shrine, and pray for me. I don’t ask Georgia for more".

 

A younger generation of Georgians puts the candles for Grigol Robakidze's soul near the tiny shrine in Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit to MaiaN
A younger generation of Georgians puts the candles for Grigol Robakidze's soul near the tiny shrine in Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit: BRAMS

 

Irregularly although frequently, the last wish of the prominent Georgian writer, philosopher, and public figure has been fulfilled by his fellow countrymen. In Soviet times there was a political reason why secretly, and why not annually a prayer was made for his soul by the public until the early 1990s – when Georgia regained her independence and paying the tribute to Robakidze became invulnerable to practise. At the same time, his works openly appeared on the shelves of many bookstores throughout Georgia, and more people became familiar with Grigol Robakidze's writings.

 

Grigol Robakidze's portrait near the shrine inside Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit to MaiaN
Grigol Robakidze's portrait near the shrine inside Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit: BRAMS

 

Today there are Grigol Robakidze Avenue and Grigol Robakidze Street in the capital city of Tbilisi; one of the top universities of Georgia – Grigol Robakidze University – also bears his name. His works are published and republished, translated from German to Georgian and from Georgian to other languages. Still, Grigol Robakidze needs and deserves much more respect and attention from his homeland and people than he has got so far.

 

Candles lit by the American and British Studies Institute representatives for Grigol Robakidze in Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit to MaiaN
Candles lit by the American and British Studies Institute representatives for Grigol Robakidze in Mtskheta Cathedral. Credit: BRAMS