Description of the attraction
Gelati Monastery in Kutaisi is one of the main architectural landmarks of the city, which is a symbol of the Georgian Golden Age. The temple rises on a hill above the valley of the Tskal-Tsitela river. King David Agmashenebeli founded and built a monastery near his residence in 1106. This is one of the few architectural ensembles in Georgia that has retained its originality along with information about its founder and builders.
In the XIV Art. The Gelati monastery was almost completely destroyed by the Mongols, but in the 15th century. it was rebuilt by the Georgian king George VI. Throughout the XVII century. the monastery has lost its former significance. In the XVIII century. the king of Imereti Solomon I began to restore the temple complex.
From the moment of its foundation, the monastery also served as a necropolis for the Georgian kings. For quite a long time the monastery was a cultural and educational center, had its own academy. A huge number of scientists, theologians, philosophers, translators and orators, who had previously worked in various monasteries abroad, worked here. Among the staff of the academy were such well-known scientists as I. Petritsi and A. Ikaltoeli. Contemporaries called the Gelati Academy "new Hellas" or "second Athos".
The churches of the Great Martyr George and St. Nicholas (XIII century), the Catholicon (XII century), the refectory, the bell tower and the building of the Academy have survived from the monastery complex to this day.
The Gelati Monastery has preserved many wall paintings dating from the XII-XVIII centuries. Most of all, the attention of visitors is attracted by the preserved frescoes and mosaics, which remind of the creators of the temple complex. Here in the monastery you can see the iron gates of the city of Ganja, delivered here in 1139 by King Demeter.
The enchanting beauty of the monastery attracts a large number of guests. In 1994 the monastery was included in the UNESCO list of world monuments.
Description added:
nana 2015-23-05
One more fact concerning the Gelati monastery - King David agmashenebeli (builder) ordered to bury him at the entrance to the monastery after his death so that everyone who enters there I step on the slab to remember him
