Tornike Eristavi

Tornike Eristavi (d. 985), a state and religious figure, the renowned commander of David III the Great Kuropalates, and one of the builders of the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos; son of the Taoan nobleman Chordvaneli. After taking monastic vows, he was named Ioane (John). For a time, he was active on Mount Athos, within the Great Lavra.

In 979, the Byzantine royal court asked Tornike Eristavi to mediate with David Kuropalates, seeking his assistance in suppressing the rebellion of Bardas Skleros. Tornike Eristavi initially used his monastic status as a pretext to refuse the offer but subsequently agreed in order to avert the expected wrath of the authorities.

David Kuropalates dispatched 12,000 cavalrymen to Byzantium under the command of Tornike Eristavi, who defeated Skleros and seized a vast amount of loot. According to the promise made by the Byzantine authorities, the captured wealth belonged to Tornike Eristavi. He donated a portion of this wealth to the Lavra of Athanasius and other Greek monasteries, while dedicating the largest share to the construction of the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos.

Around the year 980, the Byzantine Emperor bestowed upon Tornike Eristavi the title of Synkellos (a monastic assistant and advisor to the patriarch). At Tornike Eristavi’s order the Oshki Bible (in 978), and later a 981-manuscript copy of Cyril of Alexandria's work, Thesaurus (The Treasure) were copied.

Sources: გიორგი მთაწმიდელი, ცხორებაჲ იოვანესი და ეფთჳმესი, წგ.: ძველი ქართული აგიოგრაფიული ლიტერატურის ძეგლები, ილ. აბულაძის რედ., წგ. 2, თბ., 1967.

A. Bogveradze