Founder

“Edisher Garakanidze was 22 years-old young man, when he first came to the church in 1979. He started to chant in the choir of the Sioni cathedral church and he was also a regent of the choir until the end of his life. That was a difficult period for believers, as the government strictly controlled every person within the church. Especially young and talented people were under pressure. Mr. Edisher passed this exam of time and additionally he showed himself as a very talented and patriotic man. During his short life he managed to learn Georgian folklore, church hymns and restore them in the original form.  The ensemble “Mtiebi” and the folklore-ethnographical studio “Amer-Imeri” established by him, has become world famous and added big contribution into the revival of the national spirit.

First of all, Edisher was a real believer and an orthodox Christian who loved God and that’s why he managed to leave such a deep and shining trace, which can give orientation to many important researches in folklore”.

The Patriarch of Georgia,

Illia II