Soul and Body: Diseases, Remedies and Healing in Georgian Hagiography

This paper analyses some significant Georgian hagiographical texts with particular regard to the theme of health and disease, both of body and soul, surveying the passages most closely linked to these themes. The works examined are The Passion of Saint Shushanik (476–483) by Jacob of Tsurtavi, the Martyrdom of Saint Abo of Tbilisi (786–790) by John Sabanisdze, the anonymous Conversion of Kartli (9th cent.) and the Life of Saint Gregory of Khandzta (10th cent.) by George Merchule. These classic texts reflect how disease was perceived by the faithful and conceptualised by theologians and record the remedies that were thought to be helpful.