Tamarashvili Mikheil

Tamarashvili Mikheil (Michel Tamarati) (1858-1911), Historian and public figure, born in Akhaltsikhe, East Georgia. Starting from 1878 he studied in Constantinople, at the Georgian school founded by the Catholic Priest P. Kharischirashvili; in 1881-83 he continued his studies at a theological seminary in Spain. In 1888 he graduated from the St. Lazarus Grand Theological School in Paris. M. Tamarashvili engaged in the scientific life of Paris; he worked in book depositories, archives and museums. The same year he returned to Georgia. In 1891, after he was banished from his homeland for alleged nationalistic propaganda, M. Tamarashvili arrived in Rome and continued to study at the Theological Academy. In 1984 he received the title of the Doctor of Theology. Since that time he became seriously involved in scientific and social activities. In the European archives Tamarashvili discovered documents highlighting the history of Georgia and published works on the propagation of Christianity in Georgia (The History of Adoption of Catholicism By Georgians, 1902), etc. Vatican awarded a special prize to M. Tamarashvili’s book The History of Georgian Church (Rome, 1910). In Sicily he discovered an unique album of drawings by Cristoforo De Castelli, depicting the scenes from the life of feudal Georgia. He was the first to acquaint European readers with Georgian history and culture.

Mikheil Tamarashvili died in Itali, in Santa Marinella village, when he attempted to save a drowning stranger. He was buried in Civitavecchia, Italy. In 1978 his remains were transferred to Georgia and buried at Didube Pantheon.