Gelati ( ka, გელათის მონასტერი) is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

monastic complex near

Kutaisi Kutaisi (, ka, ქუთაისი ) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the third-most populous city in Georgia, traditionally, second in importance, after the capital city of Tbilisi. Situated west of Tbilis ...

in the

Imereti Imereti ( Georgian: იმერეთი) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 mun ...

region of western

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to t ...

. One of the first monasteries in Georgia, it was founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia as a monastic and educational center. The monastery is an exemplar of the

Georgian Golden Age The Georgian Golden Age ( ka, საქართველოს ოქროს ხანა, tr) describes a historical period in the High Middle Ages, spanning from roughly the late 11th to 13th centuries, during which the Kingdom of Georgia reac ...

and a gold aesthetic is employed in the paintings and buildings. It was built to celebrate Orthodox Christian faith in Georgia. Some murals found inside the Gelati Monastery church date back to the 12th century. The monastery was inscribed as a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

in 1994 because of its outstanding architecture and its importance as an educational and scientific center in medieval Georgia.

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 David IV of Georgia, at which time

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

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...

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

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

. The Monastery also acts as the burial site for 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 la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth ( Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

. 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 ( grc-gre, Πρόκλος ὁ Διάδοχος, ''Próklos ho Diádokhos''), was a Greek Neoplatonist philosopher, one of the last major classical philosophe ...

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

Aristotle Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical Greece, Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatet ...

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

Hellas Hellas may refer to: Places in Greece *Ἑλλάς (''Ellás''), genitive Ἑλλάδος (''Elládos''), an ancient Greek toponym used to refer to: ** Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country i ...

" and "a second

Athos Athos may refer to: Fictional or mythical characters * Athos (character), one of the title characters in the novel ''The Three Musketeers'' (1844) by Alexandre Dumas père * Athos (mythology), one of the Gigantes in Greek mythology * Athos Fadi ...

Art

Triptychs

Triptych A triptych ( ; from the Greek adjective ''τρίπτυχον'' "''triptukhon''" ("three-fold"), from ''tri'', i.e., "three" and ''ptysso'', i.e., "to fold" or ''ptyx'', i.e., "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divide ...

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

of the main church, and is an artwork of cultural importance in Georgia. Above the altar is situated a statue of the Virgin Mary, looking down at the baby Jesus she is holding.

Conservation

The

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...

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.

Burials

* Demetrius I of Georgia * David IV of Georgia *

David V of Georgia David V ( ka, დავით V, ''Davit' V''; died 1155), of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a 7th king of Georgia in 1154 before his death in 1155 He was an elder son of King Demetre I. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi an he ...

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

Bagrat VI of Georgia Bagrat VI ( ka, ბაგრატ VI; 1439 – 1478), a representative of the Imeretian branch of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a king of Imereti (as Bagrat II) from 1463, and a king of Georgia from 1465 until his death. Life He was the son of P ...

* David IX of Georgia * George V of Georgia * Alexander II of Imereti * George of Chqondidi *

Tamar of Georgia Tamar the Great ( ka, თამარ მეფე, tr, Literal translation, lit. "King Tamar") ( 1160 – 18 January 1213) queen regnant, reigned as the List of monarchs of Georgia#Kings of unified Georgia (1008–1490), Queen of Kingdom of ...

Gallery

Image:Gelati Theotokos.jpg, ''Mother of God'', mosaic fresco Image:Gelati archangel.jpg,

Archangel Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

, mosaic fresco Image:Gelati Ascension.jpg, The Ascension, mural (16th century) Image:Georgia-DavidIV.jpg, David IV of Georgia, 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, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most c ...

of St. George in front of the

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

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 ''Theotokos'' (Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are ''Dei Genitrix'' or '' Deipara'' (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are ...

, 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 The GNU Free Documentation License (GNU FDL or simply GFDL) is a copyleft license for free documentation, designed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) for the GNU Project. It is similar to the GNU General Public License, giving readers the r ...

.''

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)