Ateni Theotokos Church inscription explained

Ateni Theotokos Church Georgian inscription
Writing:	Georgian script
Language:	Old Georgian
Created:	982–989
Discovered:	1940

The Ateni Theotokos Church inscription (Georgian: ატენის ღვთისმშობლის ეკლესიის წარწერა) is the Georgian language inscription written in the Georgian Asomtavruli script on the Ateni Theotokos Church, a basilica located in the village of Didi Ateni, Gori Municipality, Shida Kartli, Georgia. The inscriptions are dated 982–989 AD. The inscription mentions Rati I and Liparit II, Dukes of Kldekari.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Inscription

ႵႤ ႠႣႨႣႤ ႭႰႱႠ

ႥႤ ႺႾႭႥႰႤႡႠႱႠ

ႠႵႠ ჄႭႰႺႨႤႪႤႡ

Ⴐ ႣႠ ႼႤ ႸႬႱႠ ႱႳႪ

ႨႤႡႰ ႰႠႲ ႤႰႨႱႧ

ႠႥႨ ႻႤ ႨႢႨ ႪႮႰႲ

ႤႰႨႱႧႥႨႱႠႨ ႰႪႬ

ႠႶႠႸႤႬႠ ႤႱႤ ႱႠႾ

ႪႨ ႶႧႨႱႠႨ ႣႠ ႡႽႤႨ

ႺႠႧႠႨ ႼႨ ႤႩႪႤႱႨ

ႠႨ ႱႠႪႭႺႥႤႪႠႣ

ႱႳႪႨႱႠ ႫႧႨႱႠ

• Translation: "Jesus Christ, have mercy on both of the worldly lives, bodily and spiritual, of Rati Eristavi, son of Liparit Eristavi, who built this house of God as a rock of Sky, a holy Church, for praying for their souls."

Notes and References

1. N. Shoshiashvili, Corpus of Georgian inscriptions, I, Tbilisi, 1980, pp. 202–203
2. L. Rcheulishvili, Ateni Low-domed Church, Georgian Art, I, Tbilisi, 1942, pp. 33–37
3. Kornelius Danelia, Zurab Sarjveladze, Georgian Paleography. Tbilisi, 1997, pp. 42–43