Historical Facts and Topoi Found in the Premetaphrastic Version of the Life of St. Davit Garejeli

Abstract

When composing hagiographic narratives, the aim of the hagiographers was not to compose an exact biographical record of the saint, but rather to portray the saint as a learned ascetic, exemplary hermit and wonderworker. To score the goal, the hagiographers employed the literary models found in the Bible and earlier hagiographic works. These common themes were known as topoi which passed from one work to another. The use of widely accepted topoi was especially important for Georgian hagiographers who were eager to establish importance of the national saints to the Christian history, and to place them on an equal footing with Byzantine and Persian saints. Examples of the topoi used in the Life of St. Davit Garejeli are given in the paper. They are compared with examples from the lives of other saints. Certain features of monastic life in Gareji described in the Vita are compared with the results of recent material culture studies in Gareji. The conclusion is made that despite of the abundant use of topoi in the Vita, they all concern only personal portrait of the saint. Details of the monastic life described in the narrative are reliable. They are supported by material evidence. Namely, the studies show that anachoretic style of life in Gareji described in the Vita was favoured for long. It is attested in the structure of living caves dating to the 9th-11th centuries. Monks in Gareji lived in multi-cave, self-sustained complexes which were accessed through communication shaft. The larger dwelling cave used for everyday life activities of the monks was a focal point of a complex. It was simultaneously used as a bedroom, as suggested by existence of a rock-cut sleeping bench in the cave. Sometimes a separate cave was used as a bedroom. Majority of dwelling rooms had a private liturgical space: a naveless altar apse cut into the east wall. Sometimes a complex had a detached private chapel. The dwelling complex also had a small storage cave for storing water and food. At a remote edge of the multi-cave complex was located an individual latrine accessed by means of a corridor.