Stalin and Cult of Moon

Tengiz Simashvili

Professor,

Head of Caucasus Scientific-Research

Center of Telavi State University, Georgia

The article was published in Iv. Javakhishvili State University Proceedings, X, 2016
(in Georgian)

Stalin and Cult of Moon

 ‘’In Georgian people’s thinking it has a place of moon,

 Georgians‘ main deity, the old paganism time of St. George.’’

Great Georgian Historian Ivane Javakhishvili

The goal of my research to improve knowledge about non democratic rulers - in this case about Stalin. Materials retrieved by me in the Georgian Republic archives differ from the official biography of Stalin. In a research process too many questions arose, including – who was a young Stalin factually? What did influence on his ideology? What was the condition that one of the best pupils of Tbilisi Seminary, first ranking, left the seminary without any special reason and why he was like this which was - dictator of the Soviet Union. 

In the nearest history Stalin was one of the greatest Dictator which biography is interesting not only for historians. We know a lot of about Hitler’s occult knowledge and interests’ but about Stalin only unproven information and my research can to illuminate this part of his life. In my article I to prove that Stalin had this knowledge – I assume Stalin knew separated elements of moon worship magic kept in Georgian being and which were used by moon worship servant mages in order to manage people.

***

Content of unpublished memories of Aleksandre (Sandro) Tsikhitatrishvili – a son of Stalin - Yosef Jughashvili’s Godfather Mikhail Tsikhitatrishvili, dated with 1936 year is quite interesting. According to his words – “Yosef Jughashvili – Stalin was “my breasts brother” and my father Mikhail was a groomsman of Beso with Iakob Egnatashvili. [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 1-6] *(Beso was Stalin’s father nickname, full first name was - Besarion in Georgian language; Iakob Egnatashvili’s being of groomsman of the wedding ceremony of Besarion and Keke Jughashvili – Stalin’s parents, is not approved by the documents – T. S.). (see Doc.) Keke’s mother Melania was a Godchild of my grandmother. Soso was born in December 1878, my father’s mother Mariam helped Keke to deliver the baby.” *(Indeed, from the archive documents it is obvious that Yosef Jughashvili was born on 6^th of December 1878 and was Christened on 17^th of December – T. S. [The Georgian Central Historical Archive, Fund 440, Description 2, the case 38, page 11]  (see Doc.))

He wrote, „All these circumstances make me dare to become imprudent and consider myself responsible to say all that I know, or I think it will be useful to fill out a biography of our leader. Also I consider myself obliged to say all that I’ve heard from my parents.“ [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 1]  I stress this fact, because the memories are largely subjective, but defamation of any non-objective information about Stalin for that time was punished with exceling in „distant parts“ at least. Accordingly, for us these memories, to some extent, may indeed be a source of information reflecting the reality.  

According to Aleksandre Tsikhitatrishvili: “Jughashvili’s ancestors were not born in Gori, they were living in the village Geri, Gori province, Liakhvi Gorge and like all inhabitants of this Gorge, they were serfs of nobleman Mashabeli, too. Geri St. George’s icon was their main shrine.” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 2] *(Gori is town in Georgia Repablic, in this time part of Russian Imperia – T.S.)

Author of these memories gives us quite interesting notes about Beso Jughashvili’s origination and family. We read in these memories: “Current South Ossetia was inhabited with Georgian Mokhevians *(Georgian tribe’s name – T.S.) till the sixties (XIX century is implied – T. S.). Then Ossetians started a mass migration and settlement. Many families became Ossetians, partially Jughashvili as well, to be more precise, Jugashvili.’’ [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 2]

Herewith, initial resettlement of Georgian population on the mentioned territories is substantiated by the author as follows: „Georgians fought too long before assimilation, it is shown from the old Georgians‘ cemeteries with Georgian inscriptions in Java, Gupi and especially Roki pass. In the following years, especially from the sixties, these inscriptions have been disappearing and they are replaced with the cemeteries with Ossetic inscriptions where surnames have Russian endings. “[Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 2-3]

According to him, ‘’just because of Ossetian migrants, a large number of Georgian population had to move in other parts of Georgia. Children of Zura or Zaza, ancestor of Jughashvili did the same, and they settled to the village Lilo, close to Kakheti. Beso and Keke often mention Geri and going there for praying like in their ancestors’ chapel. ‘’ [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I). the case 53, page 3]

Tsikhitatrishvilis' memory is interesting to us for other reason, he wrote - “The child had a weak figure, that’s why parents accelerated his Christening. Beso, father of newly born Yosef made him the so called “monk” till the three years age on the name of Geri icon, a main shrine of their surname – Jughashvili.” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 4] *(In old times, in Georgia, when newly-born babies were deceased, family was trying to christen them soon, first of all, it was considered that it was required to bury a person christened after death, and secondly, christening somehow had a function of protecting from the illness – T.S.)   

The author of the memories describes this tradition - “Making a child monk *(i.e. church offerings – T. S.) was occurring in the Georgian as follows – since the said day, the curls were growing… putting on white color and borrowed *(the speech is about clothes – T. S.), buying a lamb and growing it till the promised day. Beso did the same. They put white clothes on the child and hair-do *(so, while the child was considered as a sacrificed for St. George, his hair should not be cut – T. S.). After three years the lamb became a sheep and Geristoba became closer. Before three days Beso started his way from Gori with a dray; he visited to Geri icon with his family.

Beso was carrying a little boy (son Yosef – T. S.) with his shoulders that the icon could give him more blessings and longevity. A priest from Geri held the thanksgiving service, the hair was cut, white clothes were put off, colored clothes were put on and they left the place with the hope that ancestors’ shrine would grow their child as the happiest man.” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 6]

The author mentions herewith, that „Despite holding the thanksgiving service, Soso had a weak body structure in his childhood. Especially chicken-pox affected on him, which almost killed him. It is fact that Soso survived, but pockmark left on his face and hands.“ [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page 6]

Stalin’s mother, Ekaterine (Keke) Geladze proves her devotion concerning the mentioned Georgian pagan tradition in her memory - “The third child was boy, too. We accelerated Christening, not to decease without Christening, my mother hang St. George’s Shana *(a small iron chain, or thin wire – T. S.) to the child’s neck and told to Beso: we should go to Gori for divine sacrifice.” [‘’The Sides Of The Coin, (The Child Brought Up Thanks To Needlepoint), The Archival Bulleten 2008, #1, Page 45-49]*(It is interesting, that Iosef Jughashvili’s nickname Stalin is formed from the Russian word – „stal“ – steel, which was called a hard iron by the Georgian metal-workers in old times – T.S.)

About the so called child “monk” tradition is narrated in Ivane Javakhishvili’s opuses “in the village Arbo Geristoba, St. George’s icon is on 14-15 August, this celebration is called as Geristoba. Then it is on 21-22 August for the second time, another is after one week on 28-29 August. There is always too many people gathered there from the whole Kartli: they sacrifice heifers, sheep and cocks to St. George and promised is in white color; some people have child monks.” [Volume I, Tbilisi University Publish House, Tbilisi, 1979, page 94] *(Ivane Javakhishvili was the great Georgian historian which researched old Georgian pagan religion too – T.S.)

Aleksandre Tsikhitatrishvili’s mother, Mariam Tsikhitatrishvili confirms that his spouse Mikhail was a Godfather of Yosef Jughashvili. According to her, after deceasing two newly born children – “wife and husband *(Beso and Keke – T.S.) were afraid to lose the third one and they were going to pray in the village Arbo frequently.” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 53, page50-54] *(It’s interesting, that Mariam Tsikhitatrishvili adds herewith - “Soso was six years old when he had a chicken-pox. It shows the age where Stalin’s face became pockmarked - T.S.)

It is very interesting too that in above mentioned materials speech is about the tradition remained from our oldest faith - moon deity worship. According to one of the notes, Yosef Jughashvili visited to Telavi, a teacher Ilia Zarapishvili’s family. Ilia Zarapishvili was quite educated person, correspondent of Georgian paper “Iveria” and public figure. He was collecting ethnographic materials about moon deity remained rituals and traditions in other Georgian region Kakheti, and giving them to Ivane Javakhishvili.

By the way, famous pedagogues and publicists acting in Telavi at that time, Nikoloz Mtvarelishvili, Vasil Barnov with Ilia Zarapishvili, were interested in studying moon cult rituals, magic and its splurging.

In Ekaterine Apshinaidze’s unpublished memories we read that E. Apshinaidze was growing in Telavi, Zarapishvili’s house *(memory is dated with 2^nd of February 1941 – T. S.). According to her “Ilia Zarapishvili had a niece Keto Zarapishvili … a teacher who was an active Social-Democrat.” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 3, page 273] Ekaterine Apshinaidze was quite close to him and doing her best to help him, even she was keeping gun bullets (?!).  

According Ekaterine Apshinaidze she saw Stalin -Yosef Jughashvili in the house of Ilia Zarapishvili, from whom she heard that guest was good man. E. Apshinaidze's description he was – “A dark-complexioned, pocked face man, and Keto told me that he was Jughashvili, called Koba … There was a meeting in the morning in Mukhiani. It was in the middle of spring” [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 2 (I), the case 3, page 273] *(from the analysis of other materials we may consider that the speech is about spring 1906, holding a social-democratic party meeting close to Telavi the so called Mukhiani and Stalin’s attendance on this meeting – T. S.).

This fact is confirmed by the information available in still unpublished memories of Telavi residents, old revolutionaries kept in the funds of party archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. They are about Iosef Jughashvili’s (Stalin) visits in Telavi and close villages and revolutionary activity held there.

Namely, in one of still unpublished documents whose authors are Telavi residents, it is said: „Iosef Jughashvili visited Telavi in spring 1906 and as we remember comrade Koba stayed in Telavi more than two months. Comrade Koba was not in Telavi permanently. He was going to different villages of Telavi with Khareba Jibuti, Bitskinashvili Solia, where they were holding peasants‘ illegal meetings... Under comrade Koba's guidance they formed a red detachment against black detachments of nobility. Leaders of the detachment were Aleksa Karaulashvili, Khareba Jibuti, Solia Bitskinashvili, Melitona, Akvsenti Sidamonidze and others.“ [Archives of Internal Affairs Division II, (former party archive bodies), the Fund 8, Description 6, the case 17, page 41-42] *(the above mentioned Khareba Jibuti was a famous terrorist, leader of so called „Khareba and Gogia“ terrorist group, and Solia (Solka) Bitskinashvili was a famous Social – Democrat Bolshevik terrorist of that time – T.S.)

Thus, it is possible to assume, during his youth, maybe Yosef Jughashvili – Stalin was interested in rituals, legends concerning Georgian faiths and he could be received this knowledge from Ilia Zarafishvili. Maybe Stalin was particularly familiarized with different elements of moon deity cult magic kept in Georgian life which were used for managing people by the moon cult servant mages. However, the above mentioned is out of my competence and research frames – research concerning this issue requires a researcher with a proper specific knowledge in it. *(A famous mystic and philosopher George Gurjiev, invited as a teacher for explosives by the Social – Democrats in Avlabari illegal printing house in spring 1906, was interested in studying the remains of pagan magic, including moon cult elements in Georgia and generally, in Caucasus. Accordingly, the above mentioned material can be an additional informational source for the researchers of this field – T.S.)               

The named poetry will be quite important for the people interested in esoteric issues. I just mention that authors of different genres books written about Stalin, characterizing his personality and consider his interest concerning esoteric knowledge and practice as the basis for his charisma. They almost unanimously mention peculiarities of Stalin’s walking, speaking, gestures, skills for having a psychological influence on humans and others.

I assume as a hypothesis – maybe Stalin knew separated elements of moon worship magic kept in Georgian being and which were used by moon worship servant mages in order to manage people. However, the above mentioned is out of my research topic and studying this issue requires a researcher having a specific knowledge.

If we add this information to the above mentioned we may assume that maybe Yosef Jughashvili was interested in old Georgian faith rituals and traditions. Anyway, Yosef Jughashvili’s “positive” attitude concerning the moon is well shown in his poetry “to the moon” [paper “Iveria” 11^th of October, 1895].

Yosef Jughashvili

To the Moon

Sail on, as tirelessly as ever,
Above an earth obscured by clouds,
And with your shining glow of silver
Dispel the fog that now abounds.

With languor, bend your lovely neck,
Lean down to earth with tender smile.
Sing lullabies to Mount Kazbek,
Whose glaciers reach for you on high.

But know for certain, he who had
Once been oppressed and cast below,
Can scale the heights of Mount Mtatsminda,
Exalted by undying hope.

Shine on, up in the darkened sky,
Frolic and play with pallid rays,
And, as before, with even light,
Illuminate my fatherland.

I’ll bare my breast to you, extend
My arm in joyous greeting, too.
My spirit trembling, once again
I’ll glimpse before me the bright moon.

Iveria, No. 123 (1895)

pleas see movie ''Stalin and Cult of Moon" here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbOrF709thA&t=799s