Mmedea burduli qarTuli tradiciuli samedicino kultura

kurnalo ritualebis eklesiebSi Catarebas, TiTqmis araferi
Secvlila. aRniSnuli tradicia (msxverplSewirva
avadmyofis saxelze da sxv.) dResac cocxalia.
THE RITUALS OF THE MEDICAL TREATMENT
IN SVANETI
The work presents the rituals for saving health in Svaneti. People
thought that the disease was the divine punishment, by which people were
being punished for their sins made against God. For winning God’s heart
and avoiding the diseases, in certain days (the days of the donations) there
were arranged the different types of religious rituals in churches, in houses
or near “The Saint Trees” “near the icons”.
The prophylactic types of rituals were made during the special days
in the names of the deities provoking some concrete diseases.
The most popular saint in Svaneti is Saint George. He is asked for
help during every disease. For example, during the headache people ask
for help Saint George of Ugvali (Jgrag Ugvlash), during the cough – Saint
George of Khvamli is asked for help (Jgrag Khvalmish), during the rheumatic
desease – Saint George of Tekhi is asked for help (Jgrag Tekhash)
and so on.
The most varied rituals are those of the medical and the prophylactic
types of the eye disease. According to the type and the seriousness of the
disease some different saints (Saint Barbara, John the Christener, Simon
the Foreteller or in ~Abraham Detse” Abraham the Foreteller) are asked
for patronage and there are made the conformable rituals.
The religious rituals were more or less different according to where
they were held (in churches, in houses or near “The Sacred Trees”). The
rituals held near “The Sacred Trees” show the magical action of transmit-
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