PM highlights ruling party founder’s “unprecedented philanthropy” following donation of “unique” manuscript to National Museum

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday thanked Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, for his “unprecedented” charity in returning a “unique” manuscript to the Georgian National Museum network.

Kobakhidze’s comments followed after Ivanishvili on Tuesday purchased a 10th century manuscript by the famed Georgian calligrapher, author, translator and bookbinder monk John Zosimos at the Christie's auction in London before donating it to the museum network.

The PM said Ivanishvili's philanthropy over the years had “made a special contribution to the protection and preservation” of the country's cultural heritage and, “accordingly, to the protection and preservation of our identity”.

I would like to thank Bidzina Ivanishvili for purchasing the unique manuscript of John Zosimos and transferring it to the National Museum, which is a major acquisition for our country. This is a unique manuscript which dates back to 979, and it is another extraordinary example of Bidzina Ivanishvili's unprecedented philanthropy”, he said.

The manuscript contains the earliest textual witnesses of the Gospels in a dialect of Aramaic nearest to that spoken by Jesus Christ, composed within a living tradition based in the Holy Land.

Zosimos was known for his liturgical compilations and for composing several hymns dedicated to the Georgian language.

His best known hymn was Praise and Exaltation of the Georgian Language, a mystic poem making heavy use of numerological symbolism and biblical allusions.