International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Marine Giorgadze 
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Batumi, Georgia; 
[e-mail]
Egeria’s Travels and Georgian Liturgical Practice
In this context, Egeria’s “Pilgrimage” depicting the Jerusalem liturgical practice in 380es, is the 
significant oldest source less known in Georgian academic circles. There is an opinion in academic 
literature about the existence of ancient Judaic-Christian flow as well as Jerusalem order of liturgy 
in Georgia in Early Christianity.

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The pilgrimage of Egeria, a woman-pilgrim of the-4
th
-century, took place in late 4
th
century 
(381-384) and covers Mount Sinai, Jordan, Libya, Mesopotamia and Constantinople. It is an 
extremely important monument describing the history of development of early Christianity. 
Especially significant is the detailed description of Jerusalem-style liturgy (daily and Sunday 
liturgies, Epiphany, Easter cycle, Baptism/Theophany, etc.) by Egeria. The text of Egeria’s travels is 
very important for the study of Christian seasonal calendar (e.g. number of Lent weeks, holidays of 
the Cross and Jerusalem church blessings, etc.), accordingly, for the study of liturgical texts generally.
The notes on the liturgy of early Christianity are rather scarce. The liturgical texts preserved in 
the Georgian language – Jerusalem Lectionary, Ancient Iadigari, Mravaltavi – are very important in 
the aspect of restoration of this practice.
Egeria’s Travels is important for the study of Georgian worship practice as well inasmuch as the 
Jerusalem liturgical order was in practice in Georgia up to 10
th
century.
For the future, we think that translation, publication and circulation of this unique monument 
of Christian pilgrimage literature in Georgian will be a significant and useful endeavor.

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