When talking about the origins of Georgia, one should definitely speak of Abkhazia. Since olden times Nikopsia has been our reference point. If there is heaven on earth, then Abkhazia, the place where geographically we begin - the northwestern part of the Georgian Black Sea coast - deserves to be so called. A mainstay of the Colchis and later of the Egrisi Kingdom, sometimes known as the Abkhaz Principality, sometimes the Abkhaz Kingdom, it has always been one and indivisible with Georgia. This part of Georgia has been described with admiration by different philosophers and travellers - Herodotus, Strabo, Flavius Ariane, Archangelo Lamberti and Chardin among them.

This land has been inhabited since the Stone Age. In Iashtkhva and Kistrik our most ancient ancestors created and perfected working tools and weapons, and there lie some of our deepest roots.

The ancient Greeks chose this place to build new colonies. Abkhazia, with its splendid landscape, fine climate, great water resources and blue seacoast, was a real temptation for them. That is why, one after another, new centres of civilization -  Pitiunt (Bichvinta), Dioscuria (near Sokhumi), Gienos (Ochamchire) and Triglit (Gagra) - were founded.

Strabo wrote, “Dioscuria is the market place for all the communities in the neighbourhood”. In “Kartlis Tskhovreba” (The Chronicles of Kartli) one reads: “Abkhazia is blessed with its bounty and climate. Grain, crops, fruits and vines grow here, animals and birds breed and fish spawn. Abkhazia is rich in woods and meadows; its inhabitants are handsome and talented by nature and are Christian by religion”.

At the end of the 8th century Abkhazia freed itself from the Byzantine yoke and its ruler  Leon the Second  was given the title of King. The capital city of the Abkhaz Kingdom at that time was Kutaisi, the second largest city of  Georgia today. In the Abkhaz Kingdom hagiographic and hymnic works were written.

In the course of time the role and importance of Abkhazia for Georgia increased.  In the 11th century, when the Patriarch of Antioch called into question the legality of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church, the prominent Georgian figure George Mtatsmindeli justified it by the work of Andria Pirveltsodebuli and noted that “one of the twelve apostles, Simon Kananeli (Simon of Canaan), is buried in our country, Abkhazia, called Nikophsi”.

Later, the first place in the list of titles of Georgian Kings was given to the “King of the Abkhaz”. Starting from Bagrat III, Georgian Kings had the title of the King of the Abkhaz, Georgians, Rans and Kakhs.

Abkhazia is crossed by the main range of the Caucasus, and over the orange groves the high peaks of Agepsta (3,257 metres), Ertsakhvi (3,910 metres), Psishi (390 metres) rise. The passes of Klukhori and Marukhi have shielded the whole of Georgia since ancient times.

Abkhazia was the dominion of the Shervashidze family.  In the village of Likhni resided the last ruler of Abkhazia, Mikheil Shervashidze. This village was called  “Lkhini” (feast), probably not without reason.

Every inhabitant of Abkhazia  welcomed guests in his or her wicker hut with an open heart, entertaining them with hot polenta or Abkhazian ajika (a spicy sauce). Even a poor  Abkhaz  had two such huts: one for the guests, another for the household.

It is true that vineyards were rare in Abkhazia, but instead, there were  persimmon and plum trees. The unity of these two fruits was indeed a beautiful sight. Excellent wine was made there, from the Amilakhu grape.

Still, the main wealth of Abkhazia has been its citrus. The yellowing tangerine and orange plantations, fragrant feijoa...

Everything is exceptional here, including the people. While the Pshavs and Khevsurs are proud of their ancient traditions of hospitality and sworn brotherhood, Abkhaz people can take pride in foster-brotherhood, this sacred human relationship, the firm friendship, at the heart of which lies the strong mutual devotion of two different children, breast-fed by the same wet nurse.

Probably the Black Sea and its light breeze are responsible for Mother Natures’ strange tricks: in the middle of winter suddenly the mimosa blooms and convinces us that the spring has already come. However, each season in Abkhazia is attractive in its own way. Abkhazia is more than just a part of Georgia, it is a part of our souls. A winding road, running downhill, then up the Bzip canyon and almost approaching the sky, will lead you to the clear waters of Lake Ritsa, located between the soaring mountains. Then further on to the Mount Avadkhara resort with its famous medicinal waters, and Bichvinta with its antique temples and tombs and coniferous forests.  For so many of us Abkhazia became the setting for the most beautiful summers, and so much friendship and love was born here, on the splendid beach of Bichvinta.

Akhali Atoni, with its fabulous cave and monastery, about which the famous Georgian public figure Tedo Sakhokia wrote: “The most impressive thing is the surroundings of the monastery, the small mountain river Psirtskhisa, free and self-willed, foamy as milk. It is artificially dammed near the monastery, full of tame swans and delicious fish.”

And also the old fortress of Dioscuria, with sunken paved streets and halls...

And Gagra, a beautiful resort. The narrow gorge of Gagra was a natural gates for enemies trying to penetrate into the southeastern part of Georgia.

And Sokhumi, a blue land of sun and dream. So many things come to mind when thinking of Sokhumi - botanical gardens with their  exotic plants brought there from all five continents; Their streets flanked by palm trees; The place where the beach meets the sea, the memories of generations, freedom and joy, friendship and love, a shelter for runaway couples...

Dranda and Bagrati fortress, Tsedzulda and Didripshi, Likhni fortress and Mokvi temple, Ilori - one of the most important chapels of the local Christians .
The land, rich by nature, was blessed also with minerals -quicksilver at the source of the Bzip River, coal in Tkvarcheli and Bzipi, and in several other places also peat and other important minerals. Every small piece of this blessed land between the Enguri and Psou Rivers had its special importance.

From the earliest times people in Abkhazia knew both hard work and merrymaking: with the same warmth with which they treated the golden citrus plants and tea plantations they later sang polyphonic songs at tables full of food.

Perhaps the combination of the unique climates of the sea and the mountains, openness, inner freedom, wisdom and love greatly prolonged the lives of the local people. The song and dance ensemble of Abkhaz elders was  known internationally. Some of them had reached their one hundred years and others had even gone well beyond it. That is why this group was named the “The Ensemble of Longevity”, and their wise motto resonated all over the country: “Don’t shorten your lives and you will live long!”

How strange and tragic these words of the grandfathers sound now, in connection with the present-day Abkhazia. Life here has changed its meaning and value ...
And if, when talking about the regions of Georgia we mentioned the  wars, ruins and miseries of the past, for Abkhazia everything has become a painful reality now, a wound still bleeding today.

The soul of Abkhazia is split. It is split and divided among thousands of people, driven away from their homes and scattered all over Georgia and abroad ...But it cannot continue this way, and whatever happens, the broken soul will be healed.

Georgia has always prevailed...

EKA  KEVANISHVILI