From the Epistolary Legacy of Emanuel Vardidze

Abstract

Based on materials found in the Vatican archives, this research discusses the epistle of Emanuel Vardidze, a Georgian Catholic clergyman „the head of the Catholic Diocese of Georgia and the Vicariate of Armenia-Azerbaijani’’, dated on February 2, 1925, addressed to the Catholic parishes of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This epistle is significant because the atheistic Soviet
regime persecuted followers of varoius religous denominations. This was especially painful for the Catholic parish and clergy, because the head of the Catholic Church-the Pope-could not protect the rights of Catholics living in the USSR due to the Soviet Government. The introduction of the epistle notes that his salutation is related to the beginning of Great Lent. Because of this, Emmanuel Vardidze pays attention to the need that the Catholic parish had to protect. The salutation emphasizes the importance of Great Lent, which is a means of cleansing a person from spiritual and physical sins. The epistle specifically mentions that, since the
teaching of the Divine Law was removed from schools due to the new Soviet regime, both parents and tutors should work twice as hard to raise a healthy generation. Emanuel Vardidze appeals to parish and Catholic clergy to deepen their faith in Christ: „We must understand more deeply day by day the truths of Christ’s teachings, taught through authentic learning. This will increase our numbers, eradicate ignorance and our christian example will have such an effect on the believers who separated from the church that they, too, will recognize One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.