Monument to Akaki Tsereteli and Ilia Chavchavadze, famous Georgian poets and national figures They did a lot for the enlightenment and revival of the Georgian people, as well as the self-identification of Georgians. Tsereteli died 2 years before the revolution, the second was killed. They were friends and had many followers. Prince Ilia Chavchavadze (1837 – 1907) was a Georgian writer, journalist, publicist and lawyer who is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern Georgia. Inspired by liberal movements of Europe, Ilia Chavchavadze directed much of his efforts to awakening national ideals and identity; he introduced ideas of secularity, civic culture and modern statehood to his contemporary Georgia. He was a leader of contemporary youth intellectual movement named “Tergdaleulebi”. Ilia Chavchavadze founded two modern newspapers: Sakartvelos Moambe and Iveria. He played an important role in the creation of the first financial structure in Georgia – Land Bank of Tbilisi. Ilia Chavchavadze also participated in the foundation of ‘Society for the Spreading of Literacy among Georgians’. Chavchavadze was killed in Tsitsamuri, outside Mtskheta, by a gang of assassins. He is a sacral figure of Georgia’s cultural space and was canonised as Saint Ilia the Righteous by the Georgian Orthodox Church. Prince Akaki Tsereteli (1840-1915) was a prominent Georgian poet and national liberation movement figure. He was the author of hundred patriotic, historical, lyrical and satiric poems and autobiographic novels. Prince Tsereteli was a close friend of Prince Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli contributed greatly to the foundation of ‘the Society of Literacy Spreading among the Georgians’, the development of the Georgian Journalism and establishment of the permanent theatre troupe. He was the editor to the “Jester” satirical-humorous magazine. The generation of 1860s led by Chavchavdze and Tsereteli protested against the Tsarist regime and campaigned for cultural revival and self-determination of the Georgians. Tsereteli lead Georgia’s struggle for liberation and self-determination and was the champion of the spiritual revival of the Georgian nation. He was acknowledged by the Georgians as the People’s Poet in his lifetime.