Church of Saint George, Old Tbilisi
Encyclopedia
The Church of Saint George (- "Kldisubnis tsminda giorgis eklesia"; , or Karapi Surb Gevorg Yekeghetsi) is an 18th century church at the foot of the Narikala citadel
in Old Tbilisi
, Georgia
. The church is single-naved and was built in 1753. Originally an Armenian Apostolic Church
, the church has been appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church since the early 1990s. The Georgian Orthodox Church claims that the Armenian church was built on the site of an ancient Georgian church which was built during the reign of st. king Vakhtang Gorgasali. The church was reconstructed with the help of Armenian merchant Petros Zohrabian and his wife Lolita and the restoration held by them in 1735, what makes the church one of the most important examples of Georgian-Armenian friendship and cooperation.
In the year 1735 according to the map of prince Vakhushti
there was a belltower at the west of the church.
In the beginning of XX-th century, there were built some residential buildings on the territory of the Church. During the Soviet era the church was abandoned and used as toy and glue workshop.
with an inscription that was part of an interior wall was removed sometime between 1990 and 1991; Also, the Armenian
inscription on the wall of the northern entrance that attests to the 1753 construction of the church disappeared in 1990.
With the help of Georgian Orthodox Church the building of the church was renewed and sanctified on the 23-d November of the year 1991. Since 2002 restorations are held. The church was strengthened, cleared, was renewed the garden.
Narikala
Narikala is an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and the Kura River. The fortress consists of two walled sections on a steep hill between the sulphur baths and the botanical gardens of Tbilisi. On the lower court there is the recently restored St Nicholas church.The...
in Old Tbilisi
Old Tbilisi
Old Tbilisi is an administrative district in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. Although the term "Old Tbilisi" has long been used to denote a historical part of the city, it was only in 2007 that it became a distinct administrative entity to incorporate several historical neighborhoods formerly...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. The church is single-naved and was built in 1753. Originally an Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, the church has been appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church since the early 1990s. The Georgian Orthodox Church claims that the Armenian church was built on the site of an ancient Georgian church which was built during the reign of st. king Vakhtang Gorgasali. The church was reconstructed with the help of Armenian merchant Petros Zohrabian and his wife Lolita and the restoration held by them in 1735, what makes the church one of the most important examples of Georgian-Armenian friendship and cooperation.
History
According to the Georgian Orthodox Church the ancient church that stood at the site of the current Church of st. Georgie in Kldisubani was built by st. king Vakhtang Gorgasali and then was part of "mother-castle ensemble". The ensemble "mother-castle" existed of the Church of forty martyrs, monastery of st. Katherine, Big Church of st. George, Church of st. George in Kldisubani, church called "Jris Mama" and lower Bethlemi monastery. The Kldisubani church of st. George has reached modern days with the help of Armenian merchant Petros Zohrabian and his wife Lolita, and the restoration held by them in 1735.In the year 1735 according to the map of prince Vakhushti
Vakhushti
Vakhushti was a Georgian prince , geographer, historian and cartographer.- Life :A son of King Vakhtang VI of Kartli , he was born in Tbilisi, 1696...
there was a belltower at the west of the church.
In the beginning of XX-th century, there were built some residential buildings on the territory of the Church. During the Soviet era the church was abandoned and used as toy and glue workshop.
Georgian appropriation in early 1990s
According to Samvel Karapetyan, a prominent Armenian researcher of Armenian architecture, the church was systematically appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. The appropriation meant the removal of all traces of the Armenian history of the church: The metal Armenian ornamental crosses remained intact on the church's two cupolas until 1990; In April 1990, the crosses that were seen as "Armenian" were removed; In March–April 1990, the church's main altar and another smaller altar used for baptism were destroyed; A khachkarKhachkar
A khachkar or khatchkar is a carved, cross-bearing, memorial stele covered with rosettes and other botanical motifs. Khachkars are characteristic of Medieval Christian Armenian art found in Armenia.-Description:...
with an inscription that was part of an interior wall was removed sometime between 1990 and 1991; Also, the Armenian
Armenian alphabet
The Armenian alphabet is an alphabet that has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406. It was devised by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader, and contained originally 36 letters. Two more letters, օ and ֆ, were added in the Middle Ages...
inscription on the wall of the northern entrance that attests to the 1753 construction of the church disappeared in 1990.
With the help of Georgian Orthodox Church the building of the church was renewed and sanctified on the 23-d November of the year 1991. Since 2002 restorations are held. The church was strengthened, cleared, was renewed the garden.
See also
- Cathedral of Saint George, a nearby 13th century Armenian cathedral
- Armenian architectureArmenian architectureArmenian architecture is an architectural style developed over the last 4,500 years of human habitation in the Armenian Highland and used principally by the Armenian people.- Common characteristics of Armenian architecture:...
- Armenians in GeorgiaArmenians in GeorgiaArmenians in Georgia are ethnic Armenians living within the country of Georgia. Armenians are the second largest ethnic minority in Georgia at about 5.7% of the population. The Armenian community is mostly concentrated in the capital Tbilisi and the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which borders Armenia...