08 — Abo and Georgian Identity
An Arab martyr as the patron of the Georgian capital is a paradox with meaning. This section treats, soberly and both-sides, what it means that a man of the ruling nation became the patron saint of a Christian people asserting its identity under Islamic rule; and it follows Abo’s enduring place in Georgian memory down to the modern veneration.
Tradition: Georgian Orthodox
The first file treats the paradox of the Arab saint of Georgia — the meaning of an Arab martyr as patron of Tbilisi, and the way his story both asserts Georgian Christian identity under Arab domination and, at the same time, roots that identity in faith rather than blood. Per METHODOLOGY §4, the national and the universal readings are held together without polemic. The second file follows Abo’s enduring place in Georgian devotion and memory into the present.
Files
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| an-arab-saint-of-georgia.md | The paradox and meaning of an Arab martyr as patron of the Georgian capital; the assertion of Georgian Christian identity under Islamic rule |
| abo-in-georgian-memory.md | Abo’s enduring place; the modern veneration |
See Also
- 06 — The Neomartyr Under Islam — the Life’s identity-forming purpose
- 09 — Legacy and Assessment — the closing evaluation