Holy Mother of God Church of Bethlehem, Tbilisi
Encyclopedia
Holy Mother of God Church of Bethlehem (also now known as the Upper Bethlehem Church) is a Georgian orthodox church in Tbilisi
, Georgia
, that was rebuilt in stone in the 18th century.
. Firstly the chapel was founded, but the manager of construction priest Gregory died and was buried near the chapel. The work was completed by his grandson Barsegh. For long time service was held in that chapel. For some time the church remained unfinished. The upper part built of black stone was built by Agha-Meliq Bebutyan, participant of Indian crusade of Nadir Shah, killed in battle against Turks
in 1724. he invited two nuns from St. Yekaterina monastery in New Jugha. His son Meliq Avetis built the fence. According to priests of the church Melikset and Mesrop Ter-Grigoryan the new church was founded by priest Sargis in cooperation with Khoja-Parukh, Baghdasar, Harutyun and Stepan. The foundation of the chapel was in the end of 13th century. Construction of bigger church was held during rein of catholicos Eghiazar (1681–1691) and Alexander (1706–1714). During the second half of 18th century the Archpriest of the church was Mkhitar, who was murdered by Agha Mohammed Khan for refusing to show the hiding-place where the church gold was kept. After Mikhtar his son Stepanos becomes the Prior, "a priest gifted", who is much described in scripts. In 1981 during excavation inside the church, the basement of the chapel was found .
was removed from the entrance and later disappeared.
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, 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...
, that was rebuilt in stone in the 18th century.
History
Upper Betlemi church is located at the foot of Narikala fortress in Kldis-Ubani (Roch District) district of TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. Firstly the chapel was founded, but the manager of construction priest Gregory died and was buried near the chapel. The work was completed by his grandson Barsegh. For long time service was held in that chapel. For some time the church remained unfinished. The upper part built of black stone was built by Agha-Meliq Bebutyan, participant of Indian crusade of Nadir Shah, killed in battle against Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1724. he invited two nuns from St. Yekaterina monastery in New Jugha. His son Meliq Avetis built the fence. According to priests of the church Melikset and Mesrop Ter-Grigoryan the new church was founded by priest Sargis in cooperation with Khoja-Parukh, Baghdasar, Harutyun and Stepan. The foundation of the chapel was in the end of 13th century. Construction of bigger church was held during rein of catholicos Eghiazar (1681–1691) and Alexander (1706–1714). During the second half of 18th century the Archpriest of the church was Mkhitar, who was murdered by Agha Mohammed Khan for refusing to show the hiding-place where the church gold was kept. After Mikhtar his son Stepanos becomes the Prior, "a priest gifted", who is much described in scripts. In 1981 during excavation inside the church, the basement of the chapel was found .
Georgian appropriation
Since 1994, the church has been under the control of the Georgian Orthodox Church. In 1990, the original Armenian cross of the church was removed. In 1990-1991, the Armenian fresco in the interior of the dome depending the Holy Father was erased. Also, the Armenian altar piece, originally constructed in 1898, along with the Armenian inscription attesting to its construction was completely destroyed by early 1990. The basin for baptism was also completely destroyed. The late-17th century inscribed Armenian 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:...
was removed from the entrance and later disappeared.
See also
- Church of Saint Stepanos of the Holy VirginsChurch of Saint Stepanos of the Holy VirginsThe Lower Bethlemi Church The Lower Bethlemi Church The Lower Bethlemi Church (also known as Church of Saint Stepanos of the Holy Virgins – is a 14th–19th century Georgian Orthodox church at the foot of the Narikala fortress in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. It was rebuilt between 1868 and 1870, and was...
("Lower Bethlehem Church"), a nearby 19th century Georgian Orthodox church - Saint Gevorg of MughniSaint Gevorg of Mughni Church, TbilisiThe Saint Gevorg of Mughni Church also known as Saint George of Mughni Church is a 13th century Armenian church in Tbilisi, Georgia that was entirely rebuilt in 1756...
, a nearby 13th century Georgian Orthodox church - 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...