Paper short abstract:

In our report, we consider the role and influence of international cooperation on the activities of the Georgian ethnologist and canonized Man of God Ekvtime Takaishvili and the methods of his interaction with different political regimes.

Paper long abstract:

Two world wars and a revolution in Russia in the 20th century led to changes in the established world order. Rapidly changing political regimes brought with them new attitudes and values. Under such conditions of uncertainty, international cooperation played a special role.

In our presentation, we will consider the role and influence of international cooperation on the life and work of the Georgian ethnologist, historian and archaeologist Ekvtime Takaishvili (1863 - 1953) at different periods of his life, in particular in Tsarist Russia, in independent Georgia in 1918-1921, during his emigration in France and in the Georgian SSR. On the one hand, foreign contacts gave him a chance for salvation, on the other hand, they served as a pretext for accusations of anti-Soviet activities.

Of particular interest are the methods of his interaction with various political regimes during his mission as the guardian of national treasures taken to France after Georgia lost its independence in 1921. Evktime Takaishvili managed to protect the exhibits of cultural heritage from the encroachments of Georgian emigrants, from collectors and museums, hide them from Nazi Germany, prevent the confiscation of jewelry by France and convince the authorities of the Soviet Union to return the collection to their historical homeland in the Georgian SSR.

He was outside of politics and nationalism. The Orthodox faith and love for Georgian culture helped him survive all the trials and remain true to his principles. In 2002, the Georgian Orthodox Church canonized Ekvtime Takaishvili as a saint.