Anton I
Anton I (formerly Teimuraz Batonishvili (Bagrationi)) (October 17 (October 28), 1720–March 1 (March 12), 1788, buried in Mtskheta, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral) was a statesman and ecclesiastical leader, Catholicos-Patriarch of Eastern Georgia between 1744–55 and 1764–88, writer, philosopher, historian and diplomat.
In 1738, he took monastic vows at Gelati Monastery. In 1739, he became the prior of Gelati, and from 1740 onward, he was the Metropolitan of Kutaisi. From 1743, he lived a monastic life in Davit Gareji Monastery, and in 1744, he was elected as Catholicos-Patriarch of Eastern Georgia. This point marks the beginning of his significant ecclesiastical, state, literary, and scholarly work. Anton I actively supported the independence of the Georgian monarchy and its authority. He joined Erekle II in the struggle for the country's "independence and revival." Anton I consistently sought to use strong royal authority to revitalize ecclesiastical life. He established connections with Catholic missionaries in Tbilisi. Along with Erekle II, he actively supported strengthening relations with Europe. His opponents, spearheaded by Zakaria Gabashvili, accused him of “converting to Catholicism” and declared him “a heretic.”.
On December 16–23, 1755, the ecclesiastical council deposed him as a Catholicos. On April 4, 1756, he requested the restoration of religious rights and permission to travel to Russia. At the Synod in Moscow, Anton I was recognized as innocent and was made the chief bishop of the Vladimir diocese by Empress Elizbeth’s decree.
Following the death of Teimuraz II in 1762, Erekle II returned Anton I to Tbilisi on March 1, 1763. In 1764, during the ecclesiastical assembly, the group led by Z. Gabashvili was defeated, Ioseb Catholicos was deposed, and Anton I was reelected as Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. He restored dilapidated churches and monasteries and energetically suppressed the activities of the Monophysites, who were active in spreading propaganda at that time.
In 1772, Erekle II sent Anton I with an urgent delegation to Russia, where he made preparations for an agreement between Russia and Georgia in 1783.
As a result of Anton I's efforts, the printing house of Vakhtang IV was renewed, signed and reorganized as the “New Printing House” in 1782. Anton I actively promoted the creation of calligraphic schools, libraries, and theaters. He supported the development of art, literature and education. With active support from Erekle II, he transformed private educational institutions into public-type schools. Anton I was actively involved in establishing seminaries in Tbilisi (1755) and later in Telavi (1782).
Along with Erekle II, he founded three higher education institutions in Tbilisi, Gori, and Telavi. He personally contributed to the creation of textbooks and educational literature. For this purpose, he used his original works and translated literature (Kartulli Ghrammatika [Georgian Grammar], 1753; the second, shorter edition was published in 1967).
In 1768–69, Anton I compiled a major hagiographical assembly of 20 short stories called Martirika. This compilation of stories is considered a Renaissance of Georgian prose.
In 1769, Anton I attempted to compile the history of culture of Kartli—the 860 epic poem "Tskobilsitkvaoba," which consists of seven parts. He also authored the first comprehensive school textbook for grammar, Kartulli Ghrammatika, or "Georgian Grammar."
Anton was well-versed in the natural sciences. He translated the first textbook of physics by K. Wolff into Georgian ("Physics Theoretical Principles of Wolff"). Anton I thought physics from this book in Tbilisi seminars (his lectures were attended by Erekle II). He played a pivotal role in introducing Georgian terminology for physics. His translation includes 246 comments.
Anton I's philosophical worldview is primarily reflected in his originals ("Speciali," "Categories-Symmetry," "Prediction," etc.), as well as in translations of philosophical works (F. Baumeister's "Metaphysics," "Logic," "Natural Philosophy") in numerous substantial commentaries.
Anton I made a significant impact on Georgian philosophy, scientific thought, writing, and the intellectual elite in the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries.
Source: მზა-მეტყველება, პ. კარბელაშვილის რედ., ტფ., 1892; ქართული ღრამმატიკა, რ. ერისთავის გამოც., ტფ., 1885.
Literature: ავალიანი ს., ანტონ პირველი (ბაგრატიონი), თბ., 1987; ბაბუნაშვილი ე., ანტონ პირველი და ქართული გრამატიკის საკითხები, თბ., 1970; კეკელიძე კ., ქართული ლიტერატურის ისტორია, ტ. 1, თბ., 1960; ფრანგიშვილი ა., ნარკვევები ადამიანის ფსიქოლოგიური ცოდნის ისტორიიდან საქართველოში (XVII – XVIII სს. და XIX ს. დასაწყისი), თბ., 1959; ქავთარია მ., XVIII ს. ქართული საზოგადოებრივი აზროვნების ისტორიიდან, თბ., 1977.
