Georgian Orthodoxy: Navigating the Middle Eastern Landscape

This paper explores the complex sentiments among Georgian Orthodox believers, who simultaneously exhibit unwavering allegiance to the "spiritual power" of former imperialistic Russia alongside discontentment due to its military aggression. The author contends that the prevailing scholarly perspective is incomplete, stemming from a Eurocentric approach, and advocates instead for a broader consideration of Georgia, along with Azerbaijan and Armenia, within the cultural milieu of the Middle East rather than the European context. In the Middle Eastern cultural sphere, characterized by Islam, distinctions between secular and religious realms are blurred—a feature similarly reflected in Georgian Orthodox Christianity. Shaped by historical encounters with Islam, Georgian Orthodoxy assimilated aspects of the dominant belief system. The Ottoman Empire, historically a significant religious and political adversary to Georgia, exerted considerable influence, reinforcing the fusion of religion and politics.