Gaioz the Rector

Gaioz the Rector (b. 1746, Magharo, present-day Sighnaghi Municipality – d. February 20, 1821, Astrakhan) was a scientist, teacher, writer, translator, diplomat. According to researchers, Gaioz the Rector's surname was Baratashvili, Baratashvili-Takaishvili or Vagoshashvili. In 1765, he graduated from the Tbilisi Seminary. In 1765–1772, his teachers were Anton I and the philosopher F. Kaitmazashvili. Gaioz the Rector was a participant in the diplomatic mission of Anton I and Levan Batonishvili to Russia, remained there in 1772 and graduated from the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in 1778. In the same year he returned to Georgia and for some time headed the Tbilisi Seminary. In 1780–1782, he was in Moscow on a special diplomatic mission. From 1782, he was the rector of the Telavi Seminary, which was opened on his own initiative. Gaioz the Rector took an active part in the negotiations of the Treaty of Georgievsk (1783). In 1783, he left for Russia and never returned to Georgia. He was a follower of the policy of Erekle II and defended the interests of Georgia at the court of the Russian Tsar. In 1784–1793, Gaioz the Rector was a member of the “Ossetian Theological Commission”, in 1793–1799 – the bishop of the Diocese of Mozdok, in 1799–1808 – the bishop of the Dioceses of Saratov and Penza. From 1808 until his death – the Archbishop of Astrakhan and Stavropol.

Literary works: Grammar, Mozdok, [1796–1800]; Georgian Grammar, E. Nikolaishvili ed., Tbilisi, 1970.

Literature: Darchia M., Gaioz Rector, Tbilisi, 1972; Kekelidze K., History of Georgian Literature, vol. 1, Tbilisi, 1960; Menabde L., Gaioz Rector, “School and Life”, 1991, №9–10; Tsukhishvili M., Gaioz Rector, “Three Treasures”, 2015, №1(15).

 

M. Darchia

E. Nikolaishvili