Abo Tbileli. Arabic Perfumer – St. Protector of Tiflis

Abstract

The article provides a semiotic analysis of the modern Georgian Orthodox icon depicting the Georgian Saint, the patron Saint of the city of Abo Tbileli. A Georgian Saint of Arab origin is depicted standing on the Metekh bridge against the background of the city itself. Every detail in the icon has a symbolic meaning and is subject to semiotic analysis. This applies to the Georgian cross in the hands of St. great Martyr, the Golden halo above his head, his robe (turban, chiton and himatiy), the landscape (river, mountains and gardens) and the city itself and its buildings (churches, towers, bridge), the sky above his head. The features of the iconographic style are considered. The main source is the hagiographic work of the medieval Georgian author Ioane Sabanisdze “Martyrdom of Abo”.