Timote Gabashvili
[3] Timote Gabashvili was a highly educated Georgian figure who was well versed in philosophy, theology and the history of religion.
Brief scientific analysis and evaluation of Timote Gabashvili's works belongs to Academician Korneli Kekelidze.
[7] Based on the available materials, it can be assumed that before leaving for Imereti, Timothe worked in the Gareji Natlismtsemeli Monastery in Kakheti, that is, where he was ordained a monk until 1729 and Besarion Orbelishvili was engaged in writing.
During these years, the powerful Ottomans in Imereti greatly oppressed the central government, as well as the people and the church.
In historical documents Timothe appears from 1737, from the time when Timote Gabashvili was sent to Russia by King Alexander V of Imereti to ask for help against the ottomans with Shanshe Eristavi.
Here he, together with King Alexander of Imereti, launched a broad plan to free country from Persian-Ottoman slavery.
Shanshe's bold political plans were not supported by the Russian government and, fearing a breakdown in relations with Iran, urged him to leave Russia immediately and return to Georgia.
A year before his departure (1737) Timote compiled a map of the well-known Likht-Imereti (i.e. western Georgia) depicting the main mountains, hydrographic network, vegetation, settlements, naval resources, mineral resources, and Monuments (especially castles and spy towers).
The map compiled by Timothy reflects the geographical, geological, historical and architectural materials of western Georgia.
In addition, its map shows a wealth of minerals, including sulfur, iron, and silver ores.
Because the map was of military significance, special attention was paid to the plans of the castles and the access roads to them.
From the 20s of the XVIII century they conquered Batumi, Poti, Rukhi, Sukhumi, at the same time captured and partially destroyed the castles.
Due to this situation, the rulers of western Georgia had no choice but to send an ambassador to Russia and ask for their protection.
[10] The Royal Chancellery granted Timote's request to allow him to stay in Russia and grant him a residence in a Moscow-level monastery, but Timote found it unbelievable to live in a Moscow-level monastery because there were migrants and workers from Vakhtang VI's colony.
In 1740, Timothy received a reply letter to the king of Imereti, gifts from the Russian government and traveled from St. Petersburg to his homeland.
On the way, Timote fell into the hands of the Circassians, where he was held captive for 6 months, and then fled at night and after a 3-day journey arrived in Khreita Mazra, from where he sent a letter to the King of Imereti by a trusted man.
After the conquest of Imereti by the Ottomans, Timote was forced to move to Kartli because of his past relationship with Russia.
From Batumi he swam to the shores of Turkey in the southern part of the Black Sea, where he reached first Trabzon and then the Union.
Then he moved mainly to the north and visited the coastal cities of the eastern part of the Mediterranean (Nazareth, Tyre, Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, etc.).
He passes through several cities on the Black Sea coast, dig inland (on the territory of Turkey) and reaches Malatya, then Chaldea, Erzurum, Oltu and Akhaltsikhe.
Timote Gabashvili wrote an essay in the travel-memoir genre entitled "Mimosvla", where the main focus is on the description of religious sites in the area.
Timothy described the settlements along the way: Mytilene, İzmir, Chios, Constantinople, Cyprus, Mount Athos, etc.
