David IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia facts for kids
David IV (also known as David V) was an important religious leader in Georgia during the 1400s. He was a Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, which means he was the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church. We know about him from old documents written between 1447 and 1457. These papers show that David worked hard to rebuild the main church center in Mtskheta. This area had been badly damaged by attacks from a powerful conqueror named Timur earlier in that century.
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Who Was David IV?
David IV was a key figure in Georgia's religious history. He lived in the 15th century, a time when Georgia was recovering from many challenges. His main job was to lead the Georgian Orthodox Church and help it become strong again.
Rebuilding Georgia's Spiritual Home
One of David IV's most important tasks was to restore the religious center in Mtskheta. This city holds great meaning for Georgians. It was the place where Christianity was first accepted in Georgia. Sadly, Mtskheta had suffered a lot of damage from Timur's invasions. These attacks had left many churches and religious buildings in ruins. David IV focused on bringing these important places back to life. His efforts helped to heal the spiritual heart of Georgia.
A Puzzle for Historians
Historians sometimes find it tricky to understand David IV's story. This is because there are different records about religious leaders named David in the 15th century. Some documents mention a David from 1426–1428, and another from 1435–1439.
Why the Confusion?
Traditional lists, like those used by the Georgian Orthodox Church, show three different leaders named David during the 1400s. However, some historians, like Cyril Toumanoff, believe it might have been just one person. They think this single David could have been a son of King Alexander I of Georgia. The mix-up comes from different sets of old documents. Also, the numbers (like IV or V) can be confusing. This is because some historians leave out an earlier Catholicos David from the 800s. This makes the numbering different in various historical records.
