“Asymmetric Dialogue” or Prayers in Ancient Georgian Hagiographic Literary Monuments

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the analysis of monastic exploit in ancient Georgian hagiographic literary monuments and, in particular, to dispensation of prayer by the example of Georgian saints. Article comments on different stages of prayer life: verbal prayer, pure prayer, spiritual prayer and prayerful contemplation. The path of mystic ascent of St. Shio Mgvimeli, Abo Tbileli, Grigol Handzteli, Ekvtime Atoneli and others is analyzed taking into account basic settings of hesychast teaching, unceasing prayer, noetic prayer, contemplation of uncreated light and fragrance, glory and theoria.