International Conference - “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” Opened at GTU
23-12-2025
Under the auspices of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, the International Scientific Conference - “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” organized by the Faculty of Law and International Relations at the Georgian Technical University opened.
The scientific event was dedicated to the 48th anniversary of the enthronement and the 93rd anniversary of the birth of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. The university traditionally celebrates this date in honor of the contributions and merits of His Holiness and Beatitude in the recent history of Georgia.
The conference theme encompassed scientific research, an analysis of the richest legacy of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, an outstanding scientist, writer, political figure, and one of the founders of Georgian diplomacy, as well as a discussion of his experiences in the light of modern challenges. It is noteworthy that this year marks the 300th anniversary of the great patriot’s death.
The conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia Zviad Gabisonia, the hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church, members of the Holy Synod - Metropolitan Daniel (Datuashvili) of the Diocese of Chiatura and Sachkhere, Metropolitan of Manglisi and Tetritskaro, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Establishing the Real History of the Patriarchate, Head of the GTU Theological Educational and Scientific Center, Professor Anania (Japaridze) and Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze, President of the GTU Supervisory Board, Professor Zudab Gudavadze, Vice-Rectors, Professors Tamar Tsereteli and Tamar Lominadze, deans of faculties, scientific and academic circles of the Georgian Technical University and various higher education institutions, foreign scientists, students and young researchers.
The event was opened, and the audience was welcomed by the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences, David Gurgenidze. The Rector focused on the most important historical dates that had a great impact on the formation of a unified Georgian statehood, on the results of the harmonious combination of the Christian value system and thinking with national values in this process, on the development of Georgian original culture, a common European civilizational vision, education, and science.
As the Rector noted in his speech, the 48th anniversary of the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II, reminds us of the most important thing - our spiritual and national unity, which is one of the main prerequisites for the sustainable development of the state in the modern world.
David Gurgenidze stated that the Georgian Technical University is eager and fully prepared to actively participate in the large-scale celebrations marking the 1700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion next year. He noted that, in honor of this significant event and under the guidance of the Patriarchate of Georgia and the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, a cultural and educational program called “Georgian Identity” has been established. As part of this initiative, from 2024 onward, the university has been regularly hosting a series of public lectures and educational and research events featuring renowned scientists and researchers for its students.
“It is noteworthy that the International Scientific Conference “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” is based on the most important dates in the history and spiritual development of our country, which determined the state identity and cultural and educational orientation of Georgia. The 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion is the most important historical pillar by which Georgia established itself in the common space of European civilization, not only in religious, but also in legal, educational, and cultural terms. It was this choice that created the value foundation on which Georgian state thinking, science, diplomacy, and education were built for centuries. In this context, the contribution of the great thinker, scientist, writer, and diplomat, Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, is significant. He was the first to lay a systematic foundation for intellectual and political dialogue with Europe, and his legacy remains one of the most important sources of European studies to this day.
Georgian Technical University is aware of its responsibility and mission in the study and understanding of historical heritage. Our university is not just a higher education institution of engineering and technology - it is a multidisciplinary scientific space, where engineering technologies and innovations are developed in an organic connection with humanitarian, social, and European research. It is in such a synthesis that the power and effectiveness of modern science are revealed, intellectual dialogue between Georgian and foreign scientists is actively supported, and discussion of research visions for the future is conducted. This is especially important for strengthening young researchers, because they are the ones who create the future of Georgian science,” noted Academician David Gurgenidze.
As Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Youth, Zviad Gabisonia noted in his welcoming speech, such events create an academic platform that not only promotes the rapprochement of Georgian and European academic circles but also facilitates the integration of historical memory, scientific research, and innovations. According to him, the declaration of Christianity as the state religion closely connected Georgia not only spiritually, but also educationally and culturally with the common space of European civilization.
The Head of the GTU Theological Educational and Scientific Center, Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze) of Manglisi and Tetritskaro, and the Metropolitan of the Chiatura and Sachkhere Diocese, Daniel (Datuashvili), welcomed the conference participants. They spoke about the significance of the date of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, the martyrdom of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, and the 48th anniversary of the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law and International Relations of the GTU, Professor Ivane (Mamuka) Giorgadze, as well as the coordinator/moderator of the event, Emzar Pazhava and Nugzar Bardavelidze, Associate Professors of the Department of Politics and International Relations of the same faculty, focused on the goals of the international scientific conference. As they noted, the goal of the conference – “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” is to strengthen the academic and research potential of scientists, especially doctoral and master’s students, in the field of European studies, as well as to activate academic dialogue and modern European discussions.
The work of the international scientific conference – “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” was carried out in a hybrid format in three sections, at which 45 Georgian and foreign researchers presented their reports.
The scientific event was dedicated to the 48th anniversary of the enthronement and the 93rd anniversary of the birth of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. The university traditionally celebrates this date in honor of the contributions and merits of His Holiness and Beatitude in the recent history of Georgia.
The conference theme encompassed scientific research, an analysis of the richest legacy of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, an outstanding scientist, writer, political figure, and one of the founders of Georgian diplomacy, as well as a discussion of his experiences in the light of modern challenges. It is noteworthy that this year marks the 300th anniversary of the great patriot’s death.
The conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia Zviad Gabisonia, the hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church, members of the Holy Synod - Metropolitan Daniel (Datuashvili) of the Diocese of Chiatura and Sachkhere, Metropolitan of Manglisi and Tetritskaro, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Establishing the Real History of the Patriarchate, Head of the GTU Theological Educational and Scientific Center, Professor Anania (Japaridze) and Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Doctor of Theology, Philology and Political Sciences, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze, President of the GTU Supervisory Board, Professor Zudab Gudavadze, Vice-Rectors, Professors Tamar Tsereteli and Tamar Lominadze, deans of faculties, scientific and academic circles of the Georgian Technical University and various higher education institutions, foreign scientists, students and young researchers.
The event was opened, and the audience was welcomed by the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences, David Gurgenidze. The Rector focused on the most important historical dates that had a great impact on the formation of a unified Georgian statehood, on the results of the harmonious combination of the Christian value system and thinking with national values in this process, on the development of Georgian original culture, a common European civilizational vision, education, and science.
As the Rector noted in his speech, the 48th anniversary of the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II, reminds us of the most important thing - our spiritual and national unity, which is one of the main prerequisites for the sustainable development of the state in the modern world.
David Gurgenidze stated that the Georgian Technical University is eager and fully prepared to actively participate in the large-scale celebrations marking the 1700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion next year. He noted that, in honor of this significant event and under the guidance of the Patriarchate of Georgia and the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, a cultural and educational program called “Georgian Identity” has been established. As part of this initiative, from 2024 onward, the university has been regularly hosting a series of public lectures and educational and research events featuring renowned scientists and researchers for its students.
“It is noteworthy that the International Scientific Conference “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” is based on the most important dates in the history and spiritual development of our country, which determined the state identity and cultural and educational orientation of Georgia. The 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion is the most important historical pillar by which Georgia established itself in the common space of European civilization, not only in religious, but also in legal, educational, and cultural terms. It was this choice that created the value foundation on which Georgian state thinking, science, diplomacy, and education were built for centuries. In this context, the contribution of the great thinker, scientist, writer, and diplomat, Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, is significant. He was the first to lay a systematic foundation for intellectual and political dialogue with Europe, and his legacy remains one of the most important sources of European studies to this day.
Georgian Technical University is aware of its responsibility and mission in the study and understanding of historical heritage. Our university is not just a higher education institution of engineering and technology - it is a multidisciplinary scientific space, where engineering technologies and innovations are developed in an organic connection with humanitarian, social, and European research. It is in such a synthesis that the power and effectiveness of modern science are revealed, intellectual dialogue between Georgian and foreign scientists is actively supported, and discussion of research visions for the future is conducted. This is especially important for strengthening young researchers, because they are the ones who create the future of Georgian science,” noted Academician David Gurgenidze.
As Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Youth, Zviad Gabisonia noted in his welcoming speech, such events create an academic platform that not only promotes the rapprochement of Georgian and European academic circles but also facilitates the integration of historical memory, scientific research, and innovations. According to him, the declaration of Christianity as the state religion closely connected Georgia not only spiritually, but also educationally and culturally with the common space of European civilization.
The Head of the GTU Theological Educational and Scientific Center, Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze) of Manglisi and Tetritskaro, and the Metropolitan of the Chiatura and Sachkhere Diocese, Daniel (Datuashvili), welcomed the conference participants. They spoke about the significance of the date of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, the martyrdom of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, and the 48th anniversary of the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law and International Relations of the GTU, Professor Ivane (Mamuka) Giorgadze, as well as the coordinator/moderator of the event, Emzar Pazhava and Nugzar Bardavelidze, Associate Professors of the Department of Politics and International Relations of the same faculty, focused on the goals of the international scientific conference. As they noted, the goal of the conference – “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” is to strengthen the academic and research potential of scientists, especially doctoral and master’s students, in the field of European studies, as well as to activate academic dialogue and modern European discussions.
The work of the international scientific conference – “European Studies: Past, Present, Future” was carried out in a hybrid format in three sections, at which 45 Georgian and foreign researchers presented their reports.
