Ilia Chavchavadze

Tavadi (Prince) Ilia Chavchavadze (Georgian: ილია ჭავჭავაძე; 8 November [O.S. 27 October] 1837 – 12 September 1907) was a Georgian journalist, publisher, writer and poet who spearheaded the revival of Georgian nationalism during the second half of the 19th century in the period of Tsarist rule. To this day, he has been called Georgia's "most universally revered hero" and the "Father of the Nation" of the modern Georgia.

He was a leader of contemporary youth intellectual movement named "Tergdaleulebi" which spread modern and European liberal ideals in Georgia. Chavchavadze founded two modern newspapers: Sakartvelos Moambe and Iveria.

He coined the phrase "Ena, Mamuli, Sartsmunoeba" ("Language, Homeland, Faith"), a slogan of Georgian nationalism.

After the 1905 Russian Revolution Chavchavadze's developed a keen interest in the national liberation movement for which he was elected as a representative of the Georgian nobility to the imperial State Council.

Chavchavadze was an outspoken critic of the Bolsheviks and considered the most influential Georgian writer in his day. Because of his great popularity he drew many people among the peasant class away from the idea of radical socialism, which is why many suspect was the reason for his assassination.

Chavchavadze was killed in Tsitsamuri, near Mtskheta, by a gang of assassins in 1907. It was generally believed that the Bolsheviks and the social Democrats were responsible for his death, but they were able to divert some suspicion against the Tsarist secret police. Local sources were scrutinized, leaving little doubt that the Bolshevicks were responsible for Chavchavadze's brutal death. Later, he was canonized as Saint Ilia the Righteous (წმინდა ილია მართალი, tsminda ilia martali) by the Georgian Orthodox Church.