Architecture and Asceticism: Cultural Interaction Between Syria and Georgia in Late Antiquity

By Emma Loosley Leeming

Book Description

This scholarly exploration unveils the fascinating spiritual connections between two ancient Christian cultures during a pivotal period in religious history. Emma Loosley Leeming investigates the intriguing Georgian tradition that thirteen Syrian monks brought monasticism to their homeland in the sixth century, examining whether historical evidence supports this foundational narrative.

Drawing from archaeological discoveries, artistic expressions, historical records, literary sources, and theological writings, the author weaves together multiple perspectives to illuminate the cultural and religious exchanges between Syria and the Kingdom of Kartli, now eastern Georgia. The investigation spans the fourth through seventh centuries CE, a transformative era when Christian monasticism was taking root across diverse landscapes.

Rather than accepting medieval accounts at face value, Loosley Leeming applies rigorous interdisciplinary analysis to uncover what trade relationships, cultural interactions, and spiritual practices actually connected these regions. The work places these potential Syrian-Georgian connections within the broader context of Late Antique religious development, offering readers insight into how monastic traditions may have traveled across borders and cultures.

For those interested in the historical foundations of Christian spirituality and the ways religious practices spread through ancient networks, this study provides a methodical examination of how ascetic traditions potentially crossed cultural boundaries. The book demonstrates how archaeological evidence and textual analysis can illuminate the complex pathways through which spiritual movements developed and flourished in the ancient world.