SPIRITUAL CULTURE OF THE POPULATION OF KHELVACHAURI MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Khelvachauri municipality is one of the distinctive regions with its culture and traditions. A number of important elements of the traditional spiritual culture have been preserved here: beliefs, magical-religious rituals and celebrations, which are closely related to the traditional life of the people.

Khelvachauri Municipality is characterized by the depth and diversity of ethnic traditions. Here the intangible cultural heritage is presented as a complex. It coexists with sections of different religions and eras, ranging from archaic times to modern-day innovations. The special vitality of the customs was that over the centuries, with the emergence of new habits, the traditions of previous eras were preserved.

Until the 16th century, Khelvachauri, as well as the whole of Ajara, was an economically and culturally advanced region of Georgia. It was an integral part of the united Georgian organism and, naturally, like the rest of Georgia, the local population stood for a strong Christian faith. Naturally, the planning of the economic year of the population living in this area, family and social life developed on the basis of this belief, but the three-century Ottoman rule (1560s - 1878) left its mark on the mentality of the locals.

The vicissitudes of this history have led to the survival of three religions: pre-Christian, Christian and Muslim. Added to this is the fact that the population of the municipality is also characterized by ethnic diversity. Laz (Sarpi), Muhajir Abkhazians and their descendants as well as Greeks expelled from the Turks cohabit here. All this led to the fact that the spiritual culture of the population of Khelvachauri was formed in a syncretic form.