Italian Missionary Activities in Georgia: Historical Legacy and Modern Inter-Religious Dialogue

This article examines the historical development, cultural contributions, and contemporary significance of Italian missionary activities in Georgia spanning seven centuries, from medieval Catholic presence through the traumatic Soviet period to the post-independence revival. Drawing upon Georgian, Italian, and Vatican archival sources, including the manuscripts of Arcangelo Lamberti, Cristoforo de Castelli, and Michel Tamarati, the study provides comprehensive analysis of Italian Catholic missionaries' multifaceted engagement with Georgian society. The research demonstrates that Italian missionaries, particularly members of the Theatine, Capuchin, and Augustinian orders, played roles extending far beyond religious evangelization, functioning as diplomatic intermediaries, medical practitioners, linguistic documentarians, ethnographic observers, and educational pioneers during critical periods of Georgian history. Their voluminous writings constitute primary sources of irreplaceable value for Georgian historiography. The article analyzes the complex dynamics of Catholic-Orthodox relations across successive historical periods, examining how geopolitical circumstances, imperial policies, and religious identities shaped patterns of cooperation and coexistence. Particular attention is devoted to the catastrophic Soviet persecution and contemporary prospects for inter-religious dialogue while acknowledging formidable obstacles rooted in historical grievances and nationalist discourse.

Keywords: Italian missionaries, Georgia, Catholic-Orthodox relations, Theatine order, Capuchin order, inter-religious dialogue, Soviet religious persecution, Italo-Georgian heritage.