Gelati ( ka, გელათის მონასტერი ) is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

monastic complex near

Kutaisi Kutaisi ( ; ka, ქუთაისი ) is a city in the Imereti region of the Georgia (country), Republic of Georgia. One of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it is the List o ...

in the Imereti region of western

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. One of the first monasteries in Georgia, it was founded in 1106 by King

David IV of Georgia David IV, also known as David IV the Builder ( ka, დავით IV აღმაშენებელი, tr; 1073 – 24 January 1125), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the 5th king ('' mepe'') of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1089 until his d ...

as a monastic and educational center. The monastery is a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

and was a cultural, educational and scientific center in medieval Georgia. It is an exemplar of the Georgian Golden Age and a gold aesthetic is employed in the paintings and buildings. It was built to celebrate the Orthodox Christian faith in Georgia; some murals found inside the Gelati Monastery church date back to the 12th century.

Overview and description

The monastery is located on a hill several kilometers to the northeast of

. It also overlooks the Tskaltsitela Gorge. It is constructed of solid stone, with full archways. The plan of the main monastery was designed in the shape of a cross, the symbol of Jesus's crucifixion and of Christianity. The monastery was designed to be visible over much of the country, with its stone walls constructed to reflect sunlight. There are archways throughout the monastery, including the bell tower.

History

Construction began on the Gelati Monastery in 1106, under the direction of King

, at which time

was the capital of Georgia. It was constructed during the reign of the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

; in this period Christianity was the ruling religion throughout the empire. The monastery's main church, known as the Church of the Blessed Virgin, was completed in 1130, under the reign of David IV's successor, Demetrius I of Georgia, and was dedicated to the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

. The monastery is also the burial site of King David IV, near which the Ancient Gates of Ganja, which were taken by King Demetrius I in 1138, can be found. The smaller chapels within the monastery date to the 13th century. In addition to its religious purpose, the monastery was also constructed to function as an academy of science and education in Georgia: King David IV employed many Georgian scientists, theologians, and philosophers, many of whom had previously been active at various Orthodox monasteries abroad, such as the Mangana Monastery in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

. Among its notable scholars were Ioane Petritsi, who translated several classics of philosophy but is best known for his commentaries on

Proclus Proclus Lycius (; 8 February 412 – 17 April 485), called Proclus the Successor (, ''Próklos ho Diádokhos''), was a Greek Neoplatonist philosopher, one of the last major classical philosophers of late antiquity. He set forth one of th ...

; and Arsen Ikaltoeli, known for his ''Dogmatikon'', or book of teachings, influenced by

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

. The Gelati Academy employed scribes to compile manuscript copies of important works, and people of the time called it "a new Hellas" and "a second Athos".

Art

Triptychs

Triptych A triptych ( ) is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided into three sections, or three carved panels that are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all m ...

s were popular during the

and important in Georgian culture. The triptychs represented another form of contribution to the church. Triptychs were a form of iconography for the congregation. One of the most valuable icons housed in the monastery was the Khakhuli triptych, which was enshrined in the Gelati Monastery from the 12th century until being stolen in 1859. Although returned in 1923, it was in a reduced condition.

Mosaics

The interiors of the monastery hold mosaics in classic Byzantine style illustrating aspects of Christian belief. The largest, a 12th-century masterpiece depicting the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, dominates the

apse In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...

of the main church, and is an artwork of cultural importance in Georgia. Above the altar is situated a statue of the

, looking down at the baby Jesus she is holding.

Conservation

In 1994, it was inscribed as a

by UNESCO, together with Bagrati Cathedral under a single listing. The

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

is still active and its churches continue to be regularly used for religious service. Under the supervision of UNESCO the site is being continually restored and protected. All the original structures of the monastery are intact and functional. The mosaics and murals were damaged prior to UNESCO conservation, but halted when the roof of the academy building was replaced by Georgian conservators. By presidential decree, the monastery was added to the National Register of Monuments for protection and restoration in 2006. In 2010, the World Heritage Site listing was inscribed on the

List of World Heritage in Danger The List of World Heritage in Danger is compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through the World Heritage Committee according to Article 11.4 of the World Heritage Convention,Full title: ''Conv ...

. In 2017, Bagrati Cathedral was delisted from the World Heritage Site, whereas the monastery was removed from the

and retained its World Heritage status.

Burials

* Demetrius I of Georgia *

* David V of Georgia * Solomon I of Imereti * Solomon II of Imereti * George III of Georgia * Vakhtang II of Georgia * Bagrat V of Georgia * Bagrat VI of Georgia * David IX of Georgia *

George V of Georgia George V the Brilliant ( ka, გიორგი V ბრწყინვალე, tr; also translated as the Illustrious, or Magnificent; 1286–1346) of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the king ('' mepe'') of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1299 to 13 ...

* Alexander II of Imereti * George of Chqondidi *

Tamar of Georgia Tamar the Great ( ka, თამარ მეფე, tr , ; 1160 – 18 January 1213) queen regnant, reigned as the List of monarchs of Georgia#Kings of unified Georgia (1008–1490), Queen of Kingdom of Georgia, Georgia from 1184 to 1213, ...

Gallery

Gelati Monastery view.jpg გელათის მონასტერი Gelati Monastery (48743471723).jpg Image:Gelati Theotokos.jpg, ''Mother of God'', mosaic fresco Image:Gelati archangel.jpg,

Archangel Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second ...

, mosaic fresco Image:Gelati Ascension.jpg, The Ascension, mural (16th century) Image:Georgia-DavidIV.jpg,

, mural Image:Gelati (4).jpg,

Icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic Church, Catholic, and Lutheranism, Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, mother of ...

of St. George in front of the

iconostasis In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis () is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a Church (building), church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere withi ...

Image:Georgia Gelati monastery near Kutaisi church of Virgin Mary the Blessed mural of Christ on ceiling of the central dome XII century.JPG, Gelati monastery, church of Virgin Mary the Blessed. Mural of Christ Pantokrator on ceiling of the central dome (12th century) Image:Georgia, Gelati monastery, Church of Virgin the Blessed, mosaic+mural depicting Theotokos, Angels Michael and Gabriel, Arc de Triomphe.jpg, Gelati monastery, Church of Virgin the Blessed, mosaic and mural in the

depicting Theotokos, Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Arc de Triomphe Image:Georgia, Imereti, Gelati monastery, Church of Virgin the Blessed. Mural on north wall. Queen Rusudan, Prince Bagrat, King George II, Queen Helen, King Bagrat III of Imereti, Catholicos Yevclemon Chetidze, David the Builder.jpg, Gelati monastery, Church of Virgin the Blessed. Mural on north wall. From left to right: Queen Rusudan, Prince Bagrat, King George II, Queen Helen, King Bagrat III of Imereti, Catholicos Yevdemon Chetidze, David the Builder Image:Georgia, Gelati monastery. Church of Virgin the Blessed. Mural..jpg, Gelati monastery. Church of Virgin the Blessed. Mural. Image:Gelati (state.gov).PNG, Shrine in the monastery church Image:Gelati monastery.jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:Gelati monastery (4).jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:Gelati monastery (3).jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:Gelati Monastery 2.jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:Gelati Monastery 1.jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:Gelati Monastery 4.jpg, Gelati Monastery Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (02).jpg, St. George church Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (10).jpg, St. Nicholas church Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (08).jpg, Belfry Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (19).jpg, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (07).jpg, Portal in the cathedral Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (34).jpg, Frescoes in the cathedral Image:2014 Imeretia, Gelati, Monastyr Gelati (44).jpg, Frescoes in the cathedral Image:Gelati Monastery- academy, church of St. Nicholas and bell-tower.jpg, Gelati Monastery

References

; Attribution *''Adapted from the Wikinfo articl
Gelati Monastery by Levan Urushadze
licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.''

External links

Gelati Monastery
��UNESCO World Heritage Centre

at Le site sur l'Art Roman en Bourgogne {{Authority control 1106 establishments in Europe Buildings and structures in Kutaisi Burial sites of European royal families Education in the Kingdom of Georgia Georgian Orthodox churches in Georgia (country) Georgian Orthodox monasteries Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia Tourist attractions in Imereti World Heritage Sites in Danger World Heritage Sites in Georgia (country)