Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Gelati Monastery

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Criteria
  
iv

Reference no.
  
710

Region
  
Caucasus

Architectural types
  
Georgia, Monastery

Designated
  
1994 (18th session)

Phone
  
+995 551 50 03 85

Founder
  
David IV of Georgia

Gelati Monastery

Location
  
Kutaisi, Imereti Province (Mkhare), Georgia

Affiliation
  
Georgian Orthodox Church

Completed
  
Church of the Virgin, 1106; Churches of St. George and St. Nicholas, 13th century

Address
  
Rd to Gelati Monastery, Motsameta, Georgia

Burials
  
David IV of Georgia, George III of Georgia

Similar
  
Bagrati Cathedral, Vardzia, Jvari, Uplistsikhe, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Gelati monastery georgia


Gelati (Georgian: გელათის მონასტერი) is a medieval monastic complex near Kutaisi, in the Imereti region of western Georgia. A masterpiece of the Georgian Golden Age, Gelati was founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Contents

Gelati monastery georgia unesco world heritage site


Significance

Historically, Gelati was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers in Georgia. It had an Academy which employed some of the most celebrated Georgian scientists, theologians and philosophers, many of whom had previously been active at various orthodox monasteries abroad, such as the Mangana Monastery in Constantinople. Among the religious authors were celebrated scholars as Ioane Petritsi and Arsen Ikaltoeli. Due to the extensive work carried out by the Gelati Academy, people of the time called it "a new Hellas" and "a second Athos".

The Gelati Monastery has preserved a great number of murals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th to 17th centuries. The Khakhuli triptych was enshrined at Gelati until being stolen in 1859. Gelati is the burial site of its founder and one of the greatest Georgian kings David IV. Near King David's grave are the gates of Ganja, which were taken as a trophy by King Demetrius I of Georgia in 1138.

Burials

  • Demetrius I of Georgia
  • David IV of Georgia
  • Solomon I of Imereti
  • Solomon II of Imereti
  • George III of Georgia
  • Vakhtang II of Georgia
  • Bagrat VI of Georgia
  • George V of Georgia
  • Alexander II of Imereti
  • George of Chqondidi
  • References

    Gelati Monastery Wikipedia