The New Iadgari is a significant Georgian hymnographic collection encompassing hymns for the entire liturgical year. Its Georgian translation is believed to have originated in the 9th–10th centuries. Despite its importance, the Georgian sources of the New Iadgari remain insufficiently studied and thoroughly analyzed, leaving critical aspects of its history and development unexplored.
Recent discoveries on Mount Sinai have brought to light an intriguing manuscript, Sinai MG NF 56+5, which contains a Greek version of the New Iadgari. This manuscript serves as a key resource for understanding the original form and transmission of the text. Additionally, alongside the Greek and Georgian versions, Syriac versions of the New Iadgari have also been identified, the oldest of which is preserved in Sinai MS Syriac 4. These manuscripts collectively offer insights into the textual evolution and cultural transmission of this liturgical tradition.
One of the noteworthy features of the New Iadgari manuscripts is the commemoration of the “Burnt Fathers.” This commemoration, observed on March 19, narrates the story of a group of desert-dwelling ascetics who were attacked and burned by their enemies. The commemoration of the Burnt Fathers is attested in the Georgian manuscripts but is absent from both the Greek Prototriodion and the Syriac manuscript Sinai MS Syriac 4, suggesting that this addition is unique to the Georgian tradition.
The liturgical structure of the commemoration consists of three main components:
- Stichera on "Lord, I have cried",
- Mattins canon,
- Stichera on Lauds.
The text reveals the Burnt Fathers' steadfast devotion to their ascetic life in the desert, their eventual martyrdom at the hands of attackers, and the subsequent incorporation of their memory into the liturgical calendar. Their commemoration underscores themes of faith, sacrifice, and spiritual perseverance, which resonate strongly within the Georgian hymnographic tradition.
The study of these manuscripts sheds light not only on the textual and liturgical innovations within the Georgian tradition but also on its interaction with broader Eastern Christian hymnographic practices. The differences between the Greek, Georgian, and Syriac versions of the New Iadgari highlight the dynamic process of adaptation and localization in the transmission of liturgical texts across linguistic and cultural boundaries. We may ask the question: Where did the commemoration of the Burnt Fathers in the Georgian tradition originate? The discrepancies in the sources we have verified suggest that the Georgian versions originate from a Greek manuscript that remains unknown to us.
In conclusion, the New Iadgari represents a rich intersection of hymnographic traditions, cultural exchange, and local innovation. The commemoration of the Burnt Fathers, in particular, exemplifies the Georgian tradition's distinct theological and liturgical contributions. Further comparative analysis of the Greek, Georgian, and Syriac manuscripts promises to deepen our understanding of the historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of this remarkable hymnographic collection.
The New Iadgari is a significant Georgian hymnographic collection from the 9th–10th centuries, encompassing hymns for the liturgical year. Despite its importance, its Georgian sources remain underexplored. Recent discoveries, such as the Greek manuscript Sinai MG NF 56+5 and the Syriac version in Sinai MS Syriac 4, provide valuable insights into the text's transmission and evolution.
A unique feature of the Georgian New Iadgari is the commemoration of the “Burnt Fathers” on March 19. This narrative, absent in the Greek and Syriac versions, recounts the martyrdom of ascetic monks attacked and burned by their enemies. The liturgical structure includes stichera on "Lord, I have cried," a mattins canon, and stichera on Lauds, emphasizing themes of faith and sacrifice.
The New Iadgari highlights Georgian contributions to Eastern Christian hymnography and reflects the dynamic adaptation of liturgical texts across linguistic and cultural boundaries.