Prof.

Tariel Putkaradze

On the role of Pavle, Simon and Paul (Pavle) Zazadzes in the protection
and preserving of the Istanbul Georgian Cloister

1. The perspective of the public deeds

It is natural that all public men who strive for the sake of the nation wish that all
outcomes of their deeds reach the addressee… national deeds sometimes are
immediately apprised; not infrequently, a society gets known a person’s national
deeds late. But nothing is lost1…

Istanbul Georgian Cloister public men deeds are not completely reached
Georgia until recent time; accordingly, Georgian nation has not neither used this
treasure nor appraised the merit of the public men. The intellectual and materials
treasures of Kharichamiashvilis’, Tamarashvilis’, Vardidzeebis’, Zazadzeebis’ and
others are valuable for Turks, Europeans, and Americans… but they have special
importance for Georgians; that is why Istanbul Georgian Cloister creators had
been striving to let Georgians first see their deeds. They were expected the real
judge in their homeland.

Today’s scientific conference and activities dedicated to Zazadzes’ deeds is only one
step towards demonstrating the great work of the Georgian Cloister…
I should say that:
The Turkish republic and Georgian people will be proud of the treasure
created and preserved by great Georgians called “Istanbul Georgian
Cloister”.
My conference paper is aiming at demonstrating Pavle, Simon, Paul Zazadzes’
deeds in the history of Istanbul Georgian Cloister in the history of the last 50 years.

2. The big crisis in the history of the Istanbul Cloister

Istanbul Georgian monastery was in disaster in 50th of XX century. According Shalva

Vardidze’s information Sandro Saakashvili, holding a position of power in the Soviet
government, visited the monastery in 1949 and promised help; it seemed that
Sandro Saakashvili asked the old monk to write a letter of request. There is a letter
written by Pio Baladze (who was from Khizabavra) kept in the Istanbul Georgian
Cloister which is addressed to Sandro Saakashvili. The letter is dated with 28 th
March, 1949. In the letter we read:
…”we hope that Tbilisi will understand our situation; we are left alone in the foreign
country. We sacrifice ourselves for our nation and homeland… The Istanbul
monastery was and will be a temple bearing the Georgian soul. It is a shelter for all
refugee and vulnerable Georgians in spite of their beliefs and political attitude. This
(the monastery – T.P.) is the guard and the protector of the interests of Georgia. It
will be desirable if its (Istanbul Georgian Cloister – T.P.) deeds will be evaluated
honorably, and such a small Georgia founded in foreign country will be
preserved and protected worthily”2.
In the presented document Pio Balidze writes:
“Nikoloz locked the door of the house”; The Menshevik government of
Georgia “closed their ears”; will the Soviet government forget about us
too?”
Unfortunately, “the Soviet Union” followers blocked the patriotism of Sandro
Saakashvili…

1
The God knows everything…
2
Sh. Putkaradze, Georgian Temple in Istanbul, “Literaturuli Sakartvelo”, 27 September - 3 October, 2002.

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Pio Balidze was right:
Istanbul Georgian monastery five storied home place was soon emptied out; the last
priests of the Cloister had passed away: Benedicte Vadridze, Pio Balidze, Shalva
Vardidze, Petre Tatanashvili…
For 1960th only Pavle Akobashvili (Adguladze) was alive – a church server who knew
the past and the soviet perspectives of the Istanbul Georgian Cloister; his hope
based upon emigration in Georgia. He asked for help Georgians living in Europe and
America; in March 3, 1960 he writes to the emigrant Georgians3:
“I am left alone; struggling and working to prevent our church from sharing the
fate of Georgian cultural centers in Palestine, on the mounts Sinai and Athos…
While I am alive I do my best to preserve this treasure (book repository, lands,
houses…) for our nation… After my death I do not know what will happen with this
[the treasure]; The God knows, everything is depended on our homeland and its
generation…”

3. Pavle Zazadze

The Istanbul Georgian Cloister was not really supported by the emigrant Georgians
(they needed help for themselves); there were no signs of salvation…but the God
did not will to abolish or pass the Georgian holly Cloister to others (like Georgian
places existed in foreign countries) and since 1966 the Istanbul Georgian Cloisters is
protected by Pavle Zazadze:

The Istanbul Georgian Cloister based foundation of the Catholic Society

was created in 1966 on Pavle and Simon Zazadzes’ own initiative; Pavle Zazadze
was elected as the foundation chairman. Since the 30th of XX century he has been
assisted the old monks and nuns4…

I would like to mention that before 1966, in 1962 the son of Pavle Zazadze –Simon
Zazadze is shown off public arena; during 1962-1982 years he funds the issue 5 of
the only newspaper in the foreign countries (in Paris) called “Bedi Kartlisa”: which
came out in the 60th of XX century Zazadzes’ has created a strong group struggling
on behalf of national ideals. It is not essential who was an initiator: father or son; It
is the fact that Zazadzes’ have been started intensive activities towards Georgian
nation and culture… According modern political orientate the result of their
deeds are apprised in almost the same way by the government of Turkey and
Georgia because the treasures created and preserved by Zazadzes’ are valuable for
the both countries.

After the death of Pavle Akobashvili – the Istanbul Georgian Cloister prior, Pavle
Zazadze run the “small Georgia” existed in the main city of Turkey until the end of
his life. Under the unbearable pressure he managed to preserve the temple,
spiritual purities, the rich library named after Akaki Tsereteli and the land in the
central/European part of Istanbul…

4. Simon Zazadze

In 1989 a new age has been started in the history of Istanbul Georgian Cloister: on
the initiative of Simon Zazadze a new educational hearth was built in the place were
the monks and the nuns had worked hard. Today in Istanbul it is known as: "Özel
3
Sh. Putkaradze, Georgian Temple in Istanbul, “Literaturuli Sakartvelo”, 27 September - 3 October, 2002.
4

Sh. Putkaradze, Georgian Temple in Istanbul, “Literaturuli Sakartvelo”, 27 September - 3 October, 2002.
5
Several series of “Bedi Kartlisa” (N.S. XV-XVI #43-44,1963; N.S.XVII-XVIII #45-46,1964; N.S. #48-49,1965)
have proper notes (materials are provided by Sh. Putkaradze). It is noticeable that Simon Zazadze is the close friend
of Nino and Kalistrate Salia.

2
bilgi Colegi" – one of the best English-Turkish educational institutions of the
European standards which is also expecting Georgian student…

The official builder and owner of the college is Simon Zazadze’s wife – Mrs.
Claudia Injea-Zazadze…

In the documental paper of Shushana Putkaradze published in “Chveneburebis

Kartuli” we read the following words of Mr. Simon Zazadze6:
“The school was created because after some time Georgians will come, study,
read… there can be a monastery inside the lyceum. Let Georgians come and study
languages, take care of Georgian treasures kept in the repository of the museum”…
The materials shows that during 80th of XX century Mr. Simon’s main goal was
the legal and actual preservation of the lands of the Istanbul Georgian
Cloister. On behalf of this he had to work a lot. Let us listen to him:

“There were a school of Georgian nuns and a monastery in old times. Twenty years
ago no nun lived in the monastery. It was completely destroyed. Others tried to
get it. Frenchmen wanted to have it too. I brought the case to the court. Why
should someone take our place? This land belongs to Georgians… The Roman
Catholics came. They tried to have it too. I told that this is the temple of
Georgian Catholics. After that one Muslim Georgian –Ahmed Sheni supported us
to sell it to a foundation. One hundred and sixty million Turkish liras were paid which
is still saved in the bank by the name of Georgians. No other will person get
the money from the bank; only the Georgian clergymen get it for the church
expenses; later I bought this land; I could afford it and did not want to let others
own it. Someone was about to built a restaurant, casino and a hotel near it. That
would desecrate the holly place. I bought is and opened the lyceum”7.
Right in that period Mr. Simon Zazadze made a big fence around the Istanbul
Georgian Cloister territory. It almost seemed that the Istanbul Georgian Cloister was
re-founded.

It is noticeable that since 1991 Simon Zazadze has been offering to the Independent
Government of Georgia to locate the diplomatic mission (consulate) in that
territory…
Simon Zazadze’s present concern is the book repository; there are many unique
published products (published in Turkey, Georgia, France, Vatican, Italy, Russia…). In
1993 he invited prof. Sushana Putkaradze (her deeds are separate theme) in terms
of sorting the books.
During our visit in Istanbul Mr. Simon told us:
“By putting into action the big international library we will introduce the “Istanbul
Georgian Cloister” to Georgian and Turkish people as a symbol of our friendship”…
It is pleasure that the Istanbul Georgian Cloister which was once ignored by the
Menshevik or soviet government, today is calling Georgian nation and the
government of Georgia attention; the fact that the Patriarch of Georgia Illia II
visited Zazadzes several times, that Mr. Simon Zazadze is the honorary citizen of
Georgia and his son and himself were recently rewarded with the order of the honor
by the president of Georgia, and the fact that Simon Zazadze today became the
honorary professor of the Akaki Tsereteli State University tells that:
The Georgian nation understands the great deal of merit of Georgian
public men who has been striving in the Istanbul Georgian Cloister during
150 years… Do what is right come what may…

6
Sh.Putkaradze, Georgians from Istanbul, newspaper “Mamulishvili”, July, 1993.
7
Sh. Putkaradze, “Cveneburebis Kartuli”, 1993, pg. 148

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Today Mr.Simon is with us in Kutaisi; his gene is certainly glad: if his father Pavle
Zazadze could not see Georgia, his heir Pavle (Paul) Zazadze is in Georgia - close to
the roots of the ancestors…

5. Paul Zazadze

During our visit is Istanbul we believed that Zazadzez’s have strength of

implementing the great idea: create Turkish and Georgian cultural-education
center based on the Istanbul Georgian Cloister and establish modern type
international library.
Paul (Pavle) Zazadze, a new and honorable representative of Zazadzes’ family leads
this business off.
Out guest today Mr. Paul Zazadze is an undergraduate student of the Business
School of Harvard. He has also received higher education at the well-known
universities, though I think big emotions will rise inside him (getting closer to his
ancestors’ gene) when we present the diploma of the honorary doctor of Akaki
Tsereteli State University…
I have met him several times and saw that in spite of the fact that he was brought
up outside Georgia he worries a lot about Georgia; In fact, he returned back from
America (where he could live unconcernedly in a cosy family atmosphere) to
continue his grandfather’s and father’s deeds.
Paul (Pavle) Zazadze is such a rare Georgian living in Turkey who is in harmony with
European-American and Asian characteristics which make Georgian man neither
European nor Asian, but Caucasian – Georgian – bearing excellent European
and Asian characteristics…
Mr. Paul made a firm decision to grow strong again the modern cultural-scientific-
education institution based upon the Istanbul Georgian Cloister. That will be not
only the symbol of friendship of Turkey and Georgia but an international
center as well.

6. Mothers who brought up Zazadzes’

In order to create full pictures in our mind on the national deeds of Zazadzes’ we
should comprehend the honor of the ancestor or member ladies of the big family;
their national deeds deserve special discussion:
a) Mother of Mr. Pavle (Mr. Simon’s grandmother on his father’s side) –Elizavet 8
Vardidze was a cousin of a great public men Shalva and Benedicte Vardidze; It was
Pavle Zazadze who took Shalva Vardidze in Istanbul for studying purpose.
b) Mariam Chilingarashvili-Bezhanidze, Mr. Simon’s mother was brought up by the
abbess of the Istanbul Georgian Cloister nunnery Elizabeth Bezhanidze.
Her national and Christian deeds will be soon the case of research; Out of
Elizabeth’s three sisters one was the nun; the second was a wife of a well-known
public men Ioseb Otskheli and the third was grandmother of Simon on his mother’s
side. She was married to Chilingarashvili; Chilingarashvilis’ family was attacked by
the robbers, they killed the couple and the orphans were brought up by the aunts
Elizabeth Behzanidze and her sister; That is why Simon’s mother and her brothers
wore two surnames: Chilingarashvili-Behzanidze9.
c) In spite of Mr. Pavle’s (Paul’s) mother Mrs. Claudia Injea-Zazadze’s Phoenician
originality she is actively involved in the process of implementation of the great
Georgian plans…

8
Elizabeth; Pavle Zazadze calls Elizavet to his mother (see Sh. Putkaradze, 1993, pg.149)
9
Chilingarashvilis were pure Georgians; in some sources they are considered as Armenians (resp. Sh. Putkaradze,
“Chveneburebis Kartuli” , pg.149)

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It is surprising that such a united, successful and strong family living in Istanbul has
turned on the spiritual center of European, American and Asian mixing of the
Georgian emigration of 60th of the XX century.

7. “Our Gene will be alive!”

This is a phrase which Simon Zazadze kept repeating at the beginning of June 2007
during our visit; he was proud and self-confident when repeated these words...
His belief has strong roots:

At the end of XIX century Zakaria Chichinadze10, at the beginning of XX century

Evgeni Dalejio Dalesio11 and many other eye-witnesses wrote that “Istanbul
Georgian Cloister” is the Georgian national center - the hearth of Georgian
and Muslim culture, education and their safe shelter12. The Georgian Cloister
provided a place to stay for political refugees from Georgia; for instance, in 1921
there worked the first government of the republic of Georgia… It is the fact
that during decades the Istanbul Georgian Cloister was a common church for all
confessors – small Georgia…
In Constantinople there is still preserved and protected “the sketch of Tamar Mepe
(Queen Tamar) order” made in May 1, 1917. Shushana Putkaradze is of the opinion13
that it is made by Iakob Nikoladze.

The main inscriptions on the church of the Istanbul Georgian Cloister

express the national belief.

The pray of the Holly Virgin:

The pray of the Saint Nino:

…It is essential to indicate that the public men of Istanbul Georgian Cloister
compared it with the Georgian cloisters in Palestine, the mounts Sinai and Athos and
other holly clostiers14…
Zazadzes’ are the only family in Turkey (perhaps in the world) who has stayed as
Christians for almost 100 years, preserved the Georgian language, names and
surnames and the business company which is knows by name “Zaza”… Besides,
Simon Zazadze is an initiator and a founder of the Turkish-Georgian Educational and
Cultural Foundation in 2000… it is symbolic that it was created where great
Georgians prayed and made their deeds. The goal of the foundation is to support
youth and strengthen educational, health, cultural and scientific research
opportunities between Turkey and Georgia.
All these need a colossal work and wise decisions; the person with Zazadzes’ strong
genetic code can say:

”Out gene will be alive”!

I would like to finish my paper with the words from the will of the Simon
Zazadze’s mother and Paul Zazadze’s grandmother Mariam Chilingarashvili-

10
Z. Chichinadze, priest Petre Kharischirashvili, Tb., 1895, pg. 58-61
11
“Georgians in Constantinople”, Constantinople, 1921
12
The foundation of assistance of Georgians living in Turkey was functioning there too. It was funded by Ioseb
Merabishvili (Sh. Putkaradze, Georgian Temple in Istanbul, “Literaturuli Sakartvelo”, 27 September – 3 October,
2002).
13
The opinion is express in conversation; resp., a note on the photo: father Pio Balidze.
14
Pavle Akobashvili: “I am struggling and working to prevent our church from sharing the fate of Georgian cultural
centers in Palestine, on the mounts Sinai and Athos”…

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Behzanidze (that was published in “Chvneneburebis Kartuli”, author Sh.
Putkaradze)15:

“In Istanbul Christian Georgians are getting reduced. There left only three or four
hundred Catholics; there are very little Orthodox too. We have the church but we do
not have a priest. We keep the heart of the person who had built the church. He was
Petre Kharischianti…We still have Georgian books but they need care; Georgia
must look after the treasure of the ancestors”…

15
1993, pg. 149-150