"evropuli qartia saqarTvelo "European Charter for Regional or ...

common Greek language that was totally comprehensible for all Greeks.
The same is true Georgia: The Holy Scriptures was translated into the
common Georgian language comprehensible for all Georgian communities.
Had not it been so the large number of great ecclesiastic figures
who originated from Lazeti-Egrisi would successfully translate the Bible
for their Parishes... In order to destroy the unity of the Georgian nation
the Russian empire started translation of the holy Scriptures into the
regional dialects of the Georgians at the end of the 19th century; the
very anti-Georgain activities were opposed by Niko Dadiani, Dimitri
Kipiani, bishop Grigol Dadiani, St. Ambrose Khelaia, St. Alexis (Shushania),
Ilia, Akaki and other prominent figures" 407
.
The large part of the Georgian scientific community and wider
society has similat arguments. First of all, the Georgians of Samegrelo
and Svaneti have strong attitudes about the issue that is acknowledged
by numerous publications of similar evaluations; for instance, the artic-
408
le by Sergi Sajaia and Dazmir Jojua provide with a detailed analysis:
"For a new testing ground: the educational center "Kolkhida" at-
409
temps to deretiorate the national spirit" .
407
Metropolitan Anania Japaridze: “our ancestors distinguished between a common literary
language and a local dialect”” “Republic of Georgia”, February 3, 2007 (№ 5622);
408
“Republic of Georgia”, July 15-19, 2008 (№100-132-133).
Also, see: an article) by Sergi Sajaia: “subversive ethno-fabrications – full speed”, “Republic
of Georgia”, February 13, 2007 (№ 27).
http://www.opentext.org.ge/08/sakartvelos-respublika/169/169-9.htm
409
A century ago the following impressive articles were published on the issue of attempts
for linguistic-ethnic separation od the Georgian nation: Nikoloz Dadiani,
Ambrose Khelaia, Tedo Sakhokia, Besarion Nizharadze, Ivane Margiani and numerous
other Georgian public figures; for objective evaluation of current situation see: George
Otkhmezuri, “How is it possible that the Megrelian and the Svan languages function as
state languages in Samegrelo and Svaneti? (Akhali Taoba (New Generation),
06.09.2005); M. Lortkipanidze, “All Georgians performed liturgical services in Georgian.
Must we pray in Megrelian and Svan? (“Georgian Times”, December 19-25,
2005); N. Bartaia, What if separation is a solution?, “Writer’s Newspaper”, 01.06.2007;
G. Kuchukhidze, “Those who preserved Georgian words”, “Writer’s Newspaper”, December
16-31, 2007; №154; T. Beradze, B. Khorava, Georgian Literary Language and
Georgian Culture – Creative Result of All Ethnographic Regions of Georgia, Kartvelian
Heritage, XII, Kutaisi, 2008; A. Gamzardia, “the Megrelian-Svan sketches or something
about the theory on two native languages”, periodical: “Literature and Art”, XII, 2009,
328