Georgia: The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia honours the memory of Grigol Orbeliani, a patriot and a great romantic whose biography is fascinating and diverse.
He studied at the Tbilisi Noble School and Artillery School, was a poet and general, was arrested for participating in the conspiracy of 1832, and was awarded the highest orders or titles of the Empire for his courage in the Russia-Iran and Russia-Turkish wars. One of the best representatives of Georgian romanticism was once even performing the duty of the Caucasus king-in-law.
The attitude of prominent representatives of the next generation towards Grigol Orbeliani is also crazy. Konstantine Gamsakhurdia called him “the greatest poet of Georgia at “that time” and, at the same time, harshly “criticized him for fighting against Shamil. The same subtext is read in Murman Lebanidze’s line: “We also remember Lebanidze’ sorority” of Orbeliani, Grigoli.”
And, indeed, no matter how many years and centuries pass, Georgian man will never indifferently read or listen to Grigol Orbeliani’s poem “Toast”, a great poem – “King Tamar’s face in Bethany’s Church”, a line expressing national dignity and pride: “Where is the other Georgia?.. “He will never forget his warning: “Whatever tongue goes, the nation will fall.”
Today, Grigol Orbeliani’s wish sounds symbolic and even real: “May your Iver rise strong and stand as a nation among others.”
