Cultural-educational aim of Razhden Khundadze for Defending the Holly Treasure

Abstract

Razhden Khundadze, alongside other prominent Georgian intellectuals, was a devoted guardian of the Georgian national cause. He made a particularly significant contribution to the development and preservation of Georgian musical culture. A distinguished chanter, he actively championed the authentic preservation, revitalization, and dissemination of Georgian traditional secular and sacred music. His role extended beyond performance: he was also a respected educator, choir leader (lotbari), poet-journalist, and author of original musical compositions and pedagogical manuals.

In addition to studying and notating ancient Georgian musical works, Archpriest Razhden was an active contributor to the press of his time. He regularly published articles in periodicals such as Droeba, Iveria, Kvali, Kolkhida, Mtsqemsi, Pari, Shinauri Sakmeebi (“Domestic Affairs”), Chveni Kvekana (“Our Country”), Ganatleba (“Education”), and others. He passionately defended the Georgian language, which was under threat during the era of Tsarist repression. Through his patriotic poetry and public writings, he participated fervently in the national-liberation movement alongside fellow Georgian activists.

To date, we know that Archpriest Razhden Khundadze transcribed 1,641 ecclesiastical hymns and 277 folk songs into musical notation. Through his tireless efforts and with divine assistance, he preserved for future generations the ancient tradition of Georgian three-part ecclesiastical chanting, safeguarding a cornerstone of Georgia’s cultural and spiritual heritage