PhD in Philology
Associate Professor / Visiting Professor
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Samtskhe-Javakheti State University
Tbilisi, Georgia
ORCID: 0000-0002-7808-8722
nestan.sulava@tsu.ge

God, the World, and Humanity in David IV the Builder’s Galobani Sinanulisani

David IV the Builder’s Galobani Sinanulisani represents a pinnacle of Georgian hymnography, notable for its intellectual framework, artistic originality, expressive richness, and theological depth. The hymn explores the relationships between God, humanity, and the world, which are of paramount importance on the complex path of human spiritual development. Humanity, created in the image of God, commits acts contrary to the Creator’s will, losing likeness and perfection, which provides the basis for profound repentance. Through confession, the hymnographer seeks to overcome human imperfection.

The hymn, in its conceptual, thematic, and expressive aspects, closely aligns with the psalms and the hypodigmatic-paradigmatic structure of St. Andrew of Crete’s Great Canon. It incorporates biblical narratives, characters, and enigmas. The lyrical hero’s lament, filled with penitence, is directed toward God and reflects the confessional process that guides the believer toward becoming a celestial citizen.

The artistic structure of the hymn is original, presenting systematically the views on God, the Virgin Mary, the world, and humanity. Divine names—such as Simple, Complete, Triune, and Single-Sphere—derive from theological and patristic literature. The created world is conceived as a unified whole, with humanity as its apex, made in the image of God yet fallen from the original state, embarking on the arduous path of returning from Eden.

The hymn teaches the necessity of acting according to God’s will, pursuing spiritual elevation, moral perfection, and communion with God. It conveys humanity’s mission, its place in the cosmos, and its role before God, realized step by step along the path of spiritual and moral perfection.

 

Keywords: God, World, Humanity, David IV the Builder, Galobani Sinanulisani