Gelati monastery. From left to right: Academy, St Nicholas church, belfry and main church seen from the southern gate. Kutaisi, Imereti Region,Georgia
Wikipedia: Gelati (Georgian: გელათის მონასტერი) is a medieval monastic complex near Kutaisi in the Imereti region of western Georgia. One of the first monasteries in Georgia, it was founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia as a monastic and educational center, and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The monastery is an exemplar of the Georgian Golden Age 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 as early as the 12th century. Historically, Gelati was a cultural and intellectual center in Georgia. It had an Academy that employed 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 its notable scholars were Ioane Petritsi, who translated several classics of philosophy but is best known for his commentaries on Proclus; and Arsen Ikaltoeli, known for his Dogmatikon, or book of teachings, influenced by Aristotle. 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". One of the most valuable manuscripts, mural or icon was the Khakhuli triptych, which was enshrined in the Gelati Monastery until being stolen in 1859. Although returned in 1923, it was in a reduced condition. The Monastery also acts as the burial site for its founder David IV of Georgia, near which the Ancient Gates of Ganja, which were taken by King Demetrius I of Georgia in 1138, can be found.
Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Gelati monastery, Kutaisi, Imereti Region, Georgia, Caucasus Mountains
Photo credit: © Bert de Ruiter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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