Metropolitan Shio Mujiri of the Eparchy of Senaki and Chkhorotsku and the Patriarchal locum tenens held a church service on February 8 marking the 100th anniversary of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU). Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze; Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, professors, students, representatives of foreign universities from about 50 countries and invited guests attended the church service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
“Today our church is marking the day of commemoration of King David the Builder. St. King David the Builder takes a special place in the history of our nation. His name is associated with the foundation of education centers in the country, among them the Gelati Academy. It is not accidental that the founders of TSU decided to establish the university on the day of commemoration of King David the Builder. The first university is just built on the values shared by David the Builder,” Metropolitan Shio said.
The first-ever national university in the Caucasus was opened on February 8, 1918 (old style January 26), the day of commemoration of King David the Builder. “Opening the university on the day of commemoration of King David the Builder was a symbolic act, which emphasized that the first national university in the Caucasus would continue the traditions that started by establishing the Gelati Academy. It is a continuous link accompanying the entire history of our development – academic traditions that we had in Georgia and that we are still proud of,” Rector Giorgi Sharvashidze said.
By the end of the church service, Metropolitan Shio presented an icon of the Virgin Mary to Rector Sharvashidze as a gift.
