Scientific head of the project - Prof. Mariam Manjgaladze.

The expedition to Tao-Klarjeti was financed within the framework of the internal university grant of 2023. It was carried out on August 24-30, 2023.

The expedition had an educational, research and cognitive character. There, the students in Tao-Klarjeti received a different understanding of the ancient Georgia they had already read about and seen virtually; they learned that centuries ago our ancestors had a distinguished culture, a literate environment based on Christian ethics. And Grigol Khandzeteli was one of the major founders of such Georgia, revitalising literacy, a worker with exceptional merits.

Aside from the best examples of Georgian language, literature and history research, the goal of the project was to present new, valuable, interesting conclusions to the scientific community based on the obtained dialectal or folklore material. After processing the questionnaires, audio and video material, the project envisages conducting a scientific conference and sharing the research results.

The students had prepared public lectures and each of them presented a topic academically based on reliable sources. The era brought to life by the declaration of the text "The Life of Grigol Khandzeteli" in Khandzta Monastery was impressive...

We visited Kaji Castle, Bana, Ishkhani, Parkhli Monastery, Otkhta Church, Khakhuli, Oshki, Shatberdi, Artanuji Castle, Opiza, Doliskana, Khandzta, Nuka Temple, Tbeti Monastery, Satle Castle...we went to different Georgian villages: Kheveki, Kobaki, Bazgireti, Ustami, Shurtuli, Khevtsvrili...the "Mariobi" holiday in Sazgireli was especially impressive, where ethnic Georgians from Dzios, Iveti, Ifkhreuli, Diobani, Khevtsvrili, Zakieti, Ube and other villages gather and Georgian words and Georgian songs are heard everywhere. Meetings with distinguished Georgians, one can say, changed the worldview of the participants of the expedition.

Members of the expedition were: Prof. Eka Chikvaidze, Assoc. Professors: Chabuki Kiria and Eliso Machitidze; Director of Batumi Niko Berdzenishvili Scientific Research Institute, Prof. Roin Malakmadze, historian Nika Tschomelidze and students: Elene Japaridze, Elene Beridze, Lizi Mikeltadze, Salome Eziashvili, Tekla Sikharulidze, Mariam Gulisashvili, Nanuka Kokhodze, Dea Badzaghua, Nia Gelashvili. Associate Professor Levan Tsikarishvili made a special contribution to properly planning the expedition.

Honorary participant of the expedition was distinguished poet and folklorist Eter Tataraidze, whose participation was a special experience for the students. The project "In the Footsteps of Grigol Khandzteli" was implemented with the participation of the Anzor Erkomaishvili State Folklore Center, where Eter Tataraidze leads the direction of oral communication.