This book consists of articles that were presented at the International Conference dedicated to the 80th birth-anniversary and 35th anniversary since the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. The conference was held by the International Centre for Christian Studies at the Orthodox Church of Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 14-15 December, 2012. The conference had three working sections: religion and science; religion and culture; and "God, Motherland and Man". Participants of the conference were scholars from the USA, France, Italy, Rumania, Poland, Czechia, and Lithuania; participants included the most reverend hierarchs, clergymen and representatives of the Georgian government. The work of the conference was summed up by the Round Table which outlined the tasks and methods of further cooperation. The participants of the Second International Conference expressed hope that modern society would fully estimate the dangers caused by the present lack of spirituality and will do all that is possible to restore spirituality in all spheres of public life. All these elements are examined and written about in this book.

In this scientific work on the basis of archival and rich historiographic literature, the dramatic history of Georgian and Russian relationships is shown; the tendentious, imperial and pseudoscientific views of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, are criticised, as well as the opinions of the famous Soviet dissident, A Sakharov, and modern Russian historians. All of them are exposed in falsification of historical documentations and in their irrelevant knowledge and dilettantism. The second part of the collection refers to the historic aspects of Georgian-Russian relationships. In this scientific work, it is substantiated that in 1801 Georgia was conquered by Russia, the autocephaly of Georgia was violently abolished and the Georgian people were dictated by the Russian model of government. Taking into consideration today's situation, the book will help readers to understand the mechanism of Russian aggression which has been carried out by Russian rulers toward "minor nations" explaining their action as "paternity care".

This book is the collection of scientific works by Georgian theologians, historians, art critics, musicologists represented on the Fourth International Symposium which was organized by International Centre for Christian Studies at the Orthodox Church of Georgia on May, 2011. The collection represents the thought-out of Georgian, Italian, German, American, Lithuanian scientists, whose aim is to reveal the merit in cultural-enlightening activity of the Georgian monks on Mount Athos. Besides, the scientists aim to evaluate their merit in strengthening and development of Christian Civilization. The Collection is distinguished by a high scientific level.

In the scientific work on the basis of rich factual materials, modern specific literature and new archival documents, a new conception of the Georgian nation and Georgian state's historic development are represented from ancient times until the 21st century. Important stages of material and religious culture of Georgian people are reviewed and peculiarities of historic development are elucidated. We must emphasize the devotion of Georgian people towards the Western values (Christian religion, advantage of democratic system, respect towards personal rights of a man and etc.,) and the struggle against totalitarian ideology and antidemocratic system of ruling. In this book, special attention is paid to the fact that the relationship of Georgia and America is building a new Georgia which has been of great importance.

For the last two decades, the world has been constantly facing challenges having completely new qualities: the growing tension between West and East, the uncontrolled spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the problems of facing large-scale ecological, demographical, technological, social and attitudinal dilemmas. In recent times a dialogue of civilisations has become a global and particularly pressing issue. As a result of intensive economic, political and cultural intercommunication, the world has become transformed into one indivisible system: present-day processes in one region greatly impact the functioning of the entire system. This new and important book is based on the proceedings of a conference in Tbilisi, Georgia dedicated to Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II, one of the world's foremost supporters and initiators of such a dialogue.

Liberal theologians believe in the necessity of a revision of Christian doctrine, trusting that science excludes the belief in divine intervention. However, divine intervention is perfectly in agreement with the laws of nature and science. Accordingly, there is no reason to reject the Bible and traditional Christian doctrine. A new model of the coexistence of religious and secular discourses is revealed in this collection. Most of the existing papers focus on the problem of the relationship between church and state in the modern era. In this collection, different experiences are presented along with their significance for specific countries, mostly the Georgian experience on the issues of church and state relations. The role of the eligious leader in modern society is described, focusing on his spiritual mission in restoring, enhancing and developing traditional values aain society. In particular, the role of His Holiness and Beatitude, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II is examined for his multifaceted endeavors to strengthen Georgian society and develop traditional spiritual values after the perennial atheism. This collection is intended for readers interested in the problems of the main right of humanity, freedom of belief, in the modern global era and in the age of secularism. Today, there is a lack of spirituality around the world. Traditional spiritual values aaare inhibited; in many European countries, the activity of church figures is stalled, and people are not allowed to choose aaeducation based on traditional values. This causes great dissatisfaction in society, as it is believed that traditional spiritual values aaare the main markers of national identity, and their development and preservation are essential. Hence, this book will be of great interest for readers interested in the problems of spirituality in both Christian and non-Christian countries. It will be of interest for scholars, as well as for political figures who often encounter such problems in their activities.