On June 25, 2025, at the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, students of the departments of Ecclesiastical Architecture, Iconography, Restoration of Easel and Monumental Iconography defended their bachelor’s theses.
Five students, David Rukhadze, Ana Likokeli, Rusudan Akhobadze, Tekle Gelashvili and Gogi Shekiladze, presented themselves before the Defense Committee and the audience to obtain the academic degree of Bachelor of Iconography. The topic of the Bachelor’s theses was Composition of the Icon of Supplication. Supervisor: Head of the Iconography Laboratory, painter-restorer Lasha Vanidze.
When working on their diploma theses, the students were guided by the characteristics/data of the range of icons of Supplication preserved in the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai (13th century) and the range of icons of Supplication on the architrave of the Monastery of Ubisa (14th century).
From the composition of Supplication, David Rukhadze presented the icon of the Savior; Tekle Gelashvili - the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos; Ana Likokeli - the icon of the Archangel Michael, Rusudan Akhobadze - the icon of the Archangel Gabriel and Gogi Shekiladze - the icon of John the Baptist.
The Bachelor’s Theses Committee, Chaired by Head of the field of Restoration of Monumental Iconography, Professor Merab Buchukuri, and consisting of its members: Dean of the Faculty, Archpriest Ioseb Vanidze, Doctor of Geology, Professor Murad Tkemaladze, Professor Gvantsa Koplatadze, Doctor of Philology, evaluated the students’ works with the highest marks and granted them the academic degree of Bachelor of Iconography.
The session was attended by the Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Professor, Protosyngellos of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, Giorgi Zviadadze. He congratulated the students on the successful defense of their bachelor’s theses and wished each of them fruitful further work. In his address, Father Giorgi spoke about the importance of reviving the school of monumental and easel icon painting at the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, noting that it should be based on theological education and important practical and theoretical knowledge and experience that has been preserved and protected in the bosom of our Church for centuries.
Among those present were: The TTAS Vice-Rector for Academic and Administrative Affairs, Archpriest Besarion Tsintsadze, Doctor of History, professors and students.
