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David Gareja David Gareja is a complex of 14 monasteries carved into the rock, located not far from each other in a steppe landscape of region Kakheti at the border with modern-day Azerbaijan. For centuries, David Gareja was one of the most important spiritual and cultural centres in Georgia. Although only part of the monastery complex is still in use today, the site fascinates visitors with its diverse architecture, colourful cave paintings and location in a steppe landscape. The name The name David Gareja refers to the founder of the monastery, David. He was one of 13 Syrian monks who founded several monasteries in Georgia in the 6th century. Gareja - means "to punish with exile". This refers to the incident in Tbilisi, after which David decided to leave the capital and move to the semi-desert. For more information on the Tbilisi incident, see the history of the Kashveti Church. The monastery complex of David Gareja consists of the following monasteries - Lavra of David History of David Gareja The first foundations of the monastery were laid by David and his disciples Dodo and Lukiane in the 6th century. All three initially lived in 2 natural caves and this site, later known as the Lavra of David, became the central part of the entire monastery complex. The disciples of David also founded two other monasteries, Dodos Rqa and Natlismcemli. Over time, the David Gareja monastery complex became very popular, more monks joined and more monasteries were founded. The 9th century was particularly important for the monastery, when the Georgian monk Hilarion of Karthveli moved to the monastery. Hilarion travelled extensively and lived in several monasteries in Jerusalem, Golgotha, Bethlehem, the Jordan desert, etc. He visited Palestine, Constantinople and Thessaloniki, where he familiarised himself with Christian doctrine and monastic life. When he arrived in David Gareja, he enlarged the monastery grounds, making the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ the main church and building new cells and dining rooms for the monks. This development set in motion the transformation of hermitic life into an organised monastic community. The monastery of David Gareja flourished between the 11th and 13th centuries. Old monasteries were enlarged and new ones were added, such as Bertubani, Chichxituri, etc. In the 12th century there were around 5000 monks' cells in the entire monastic complex. As a result of this development, the monasteries of David Gareja assumed a central role in the religious and national spiritual life of eastern Georgia. It even gained a certain economic position and several villages, including Sagarejo, 50 kilometres away, also belonged to the monastery. The monks of David Gareja also influenced the arts, especially painting, where they introduced their typical colour scheme. The surviving frescoes are known in art literature as the "David Gareja School" and are considered the most important works of medieval painting in Georgia. The surviving portraits in the frescoes have preserved images of important figures in Georgian history, such as David the Builder, Demetre I, Georgi III, Queen Tamara and many others. In some cases, these are the only surviving portraits of Georgian rulers. The Mongol invasion at the end of the 13th century and the invasions of the Central Asian conqueror Timur Leng at the end of the 14th century brought David Gareja's heyday to an abrupt end. The monastery complex suffered its worst blow at Easter 1615, when the troops of the Persian Shah Abbas I devastated the David Gareja monastery and executed some 6,000 monks. Several Georgian kings later tried to rebuild David Gareja. However, it was not until 1690 that the monastery was rebuilt under the leadership of Onopre Garejeli (Otar Machutadze). During his 40-year tenure, the monks' cells, the refectory and the ramparts were rebuilt. The churches were restored and the monastery regained lost lands. After repeated raids from North Caucasian Dagestan, especially at the end of the 18th century, and as a result of the annexation of Georgia by Tsarist Russia, the monasteries of David Gareja were abandoned and only a few monks kept the monastery alive in Natlismtsemeli. In Soviet times, in 1945, David Gareja was used as a military training area for an artillery brigade. Several caves collapsed as a result of decades of firing practice. After Georgia's independence, Georgian troops did not stop their military manoeuvres at David Gareja until 1998. Today, several monasteries at David Gareja are back in operation and the monks' cells are once again inhabited. It is important for visitors to know that part of the monastery is located on the disputed territory between Georgia and Azerbaijan, and access to some parts of the monastery, such as Bertubani, Chichxituri and Udabno, is not always possible. Garejoba Folk Festival Every year, on the first Thursday after Ascension Day, the "Garejoba" festival is celebrated in honour of the holy monk David Gareja. Monasteries belonging to the monastery complex of David Gareja: Lavra of David Lavra is the oldest and central part of the David Gareja monastery complex. The monastery was founded in 562 by David himself and his two disciples. In the 6th century there were three caves in the monastery where David and his disciples lived, as well as the small Transfiguration Church carved into the rock, which was later enlarged and became the burial place for David and his disciples. Today, Lavra Monastery consists of several functional buildings built between the 6th and 18th centuries: The main church, the refectory, the monks' living quarters carved into the rock, two defence towers, a three-storey residential building with wooden balconies, a defence wall and the entrance gate. The Church of the Transfiguration was carved into the rock with the help of Grand Prince Bubaraq, whose son had been cured by David's disciple Dodo. The church was enlarged in the 9th century by Hilarion Kartveli and much later, in 1816, it was thoroughly renovated by Hilarion Vachnadze. The church contains the tombs of St. David Gareja and his disciple Dodo. The church was originally painted, but many of the frescoes were lost after the renovations. At present there are several icons in the church, including those of St Nino, the 6000 Martyrs and St George. For a long time, the Church of the Transfiguration housed the miraculous stone brought from Jerusalem by David Gareja. The stone is now kept in the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. The caves opposite the church date back to the 6th century. David and his disciples lived here for a long time. In the yard there are several graves of monks, but also of some noblemen of the Vachnadze and Andronikadze families. Two defence towers were built by the Kakhetian King Alexander II in the 17th century. In the higher tower there is a living room with a fireplace and a small library. King Alexander used this tower as a retreat for mental and physical relaxation. In the 18th century, under the abbot Onopre Garejeli (Otar Machutadze), several buildings were constructed, including the defensive wall to protect against raids from Dagestan and the observation tower on the highest point of the monastery. Interesting is the entrance gate from the 9th century with the old Georgian inscription: "Open the gates of truth, go to God and worship Him. These are the gates to God and only the truly faithful come to him". In addition to the inscription, there are various symbols on the gate: on the top left and right are ravens, each holding an apple in its beak. In the centre is an eagle dropping a fish from its talons. Deer and two lions are depicted further down. In 2006, the Lavra Monastery of David was given the status of a 'cultural monument of national importance'. Udabno Monastery in David Gareja Udabno Monastery is located to the south-west above Lavra on the southern slope of the mountain. Numerous caves of the monastery are carved into the rock and in some of them the fresco paintings are still relatively well preserved. The most important parts of the monastery are St Mary's Church and the refectory. Both are carved into the rock and painted with frescoes from the 10th to 14th centuries. St Mary's Church is located in the central part of the monastery. The entrance to the church has collapsed, but the interior and the altar are still well preserved. There are frescoes on the northern, eastern and western sides, and the ceiling in the interior is also partially painted. A few metres to the east, about 7 metres higher, is the refectory. In addition to classical frescoes, the life and legends of St David and his disciples are painted on the outer wall. The oldest frescoes in the refectory date back to the 10th century and the most recent to the 14th century. At the highest point, at the eastern end of the monastery, is the Church of the Resurrection. It is a small basilica and was built in the 9th century. The church was recently thoroughly renovated. Liturgies are only held there at Easter, as thousands of monks were murdered by the Persians during the Easter liturgy in 1615 at this very Church of the Resurrection. Udabno Monastery, including the Church of the Resurrection, is located in the disputed border area between Georgia and Azerbaijan and is therefore not always accessible to visitors. Important to know: The Udabno Monastery can only be reached on foot, and from the Lavra Monastery you have to climb a steep slope for about 1 km. Natlismtsemeli - St John the Baptist The Natlismtsemeli Monastery is dedicated to St John the Baptist and was founded in the 6th century by David's disciple Lukiane. Natlismtsemeli is located 12 kilometres west of Lavra and is part of the monastery complex of David Gareja. The caves of the monastery are carved into the rock and most are relatively well preserved. The main church of the monastery is of particular architectural importance, with the tower at the entrance and the entrance portal with the bell tower. In the church there are frescoes from the 12th century and an iconostasis from the 18th century. There is another church to the south of the main church, which can be reached via a staircase carved into the rock. Dodos Rqa Another monastery belonging to David Gareja was founded in the 6th century by David's disciple Dodo. The monastery is located on the mountain opposite the main Lavra Monastery. It consists of several caves carved into the rock, built between the 6th and 13th centuries, which have different functions. The monastery's main church and refectory date from the 11th to 13th centuries. Of particular interest in the monastery is the small church dedicated to St Dodo, the founder of the monastery. Only the part of the church that contains the oldest frescoes in the monastery, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, has been preserved. They depict Jesus sitting on the throne with the sign of blessing and the Bible in his hand. The Georgian script in the Bible is still clearly legible. On either side of Jesus are medallions, one showing the torso of a woman with a crescent moon and the other showing the torso of a boy with fire in his right hand. The figures are said to symbolise the moon and the sun; such symbols were attached to sarcophagi in early Christian times. Below Christ are the archangels Gabriel and Michael, the symbols of the four evangelists and a cherub (angel with six wings). Dodos Rqa was one of the most important monasteries of David Gareja. From the 12th to the 15th century, it was even a royal monastery with many properties, but due to the long periods of foreign rule, Dodos Rqa suffered a collapse and was completely abandoned in the 19th century. Today, the monastery of Dodos Rqa is once again inhabited by monks and can easily be visited by tourists. There are two paths to the monastery; one leads from the ridge down to the foot of the mountain, where you have to cross relatively rough terrain to reach the painted caves. The second path leads from the bottom through cattle gates. It also requires you to cross a hill at the end, but is not as difficult as the first path. In any case, you need to be a good walker to get to the caves. Bertubani The Bertubani cave monastery was founded in the 12th century and is part of the David Gareja monastery complex. The 13th-century frescoes in the church of St Mary and the refectory are particularly important in this monastery. Bertubani is the only monastery in David Gareja with a fresco of Queen Tamara. The monastery is located on the disputed territory between Georgia and Azerbaijan, which is why it is currently not possible to visit this part of the monastery complex. Tsamebuli Monastery Tsamebuli is part of the monastery complex of David Gareja and dates back to the 6th and 8th centuries. The monastery was only given the name Tsamebuli (martyr) in the 17th century, when 6000 monks were murdered by Persian troops in David Gareja. Tsamebuli is located west of Natlismtsemeli on the mountain ridge. The caves of the monastery are carved into the rock and spread over three floors. Only 12 caves remain. Four of them are churches in which fragments of wall paintings from the 11th and 12th centuries have been preserved. The remaining caves contained a refectory, several living cells for monks and storage rooms. The Tsamebuli monastery was severely damaged over the centuries, especially during military exercises in the Soviet era, and a large floor from the last century can still be seen in a crevice in the wall of the monastery. Chichxituri The Chichxituri monastery is another part of the David Gareja monastery complex and is located just before the main Lavra monastery, on the northern side of the ridge. The tower of the monastery is very prominent and visible from almost every corner of the semi-desert of David Gareja. In addition to the tower, the Chichxituri monastery contains three caves and a church with 12th-century frescoes. Like the Udabno and Bertubani monasteries, Chichxituri is located in the disputed territory between Georgia and Azerbaijan, which is why this part of the monastery complex is temporarily inaccessible. Mghvime/Maghaza/Sabereebi Mghvime, or cave in English, is another monastery and part of the David Gareja monastery complex. It is located about 10 km northeast of Lavra and was founded in the 9th century. The monastery was called Mahgaza by the local shepherds, which means 'hole' in Turkish. It is also often referred to as Sabereebi - a place for the monks. The monastery consists of 11 churches, several refectories and living and utility rooms carved into the rock. Frescoes and Georgian, Greek and Armenian inscriptions have been preserved in four of the eleven churches. To the south-east of the Mghvime Monastery is a spring called the "Monk's Spring". To get to the monastery, turn south in the village of Badiauri and drive through the village of Kesalo. From Kesalo you have to orientate yourself with the map. If you have a good off-road vehicle, you can also reach the monastery from the village of Udabno through difficult terrain. Qolagiri Qolagiri Monastery is located in the municipality of Sagarajo, on the right bank of the Iori River, and is part of the David Gareja Monastery complex. The name Qolagiri means prickly or thorny entrance, and may refer to the difficult terrain with prickly plants on the banks of the Iori. The monastery was founded in the 12th-13th centuries and consists of a three-room church, a refectory and two other caves carved into the rock. The sandstone on the mountain at Qolagiri is very soft, which is why the caves here are more damaged than in the other monasteries of the David Gareja complex. Nevertheless, the 12th and 13th century fresco fragments in the church and refectory are reasonably well preserved. The last restoration and conservation of the frescoes in Qolagiri was carried out at the end of the 20th century. However, the monastery needs more attention and better protection, as the caves and valuable frescoes of Qolagiri are deteriorating year by year, not only because of rainwater infiltration and strong winds that erode the sandstone, but also because of uncivilised people who are determined to leave their names, dates of visits, etc. on the walls. The monastery of Qolagiri is situated in a strategically favourable location, and the monks here had fewer problems with drinking water than other clergymen of David Gareja due to the proximity of the river. It is also interesting to note that over the centuries the monks of David Gareja, in addition to their religious services, have directly or indirectly fulfilled the function of a small border army, unarmed but usually very efficient. Didi Qvabebi Another part of the David Gareja monastic complex, Didi Qvabebi Monastery is located on the left bank of the Iori River, close to (and on the opposite side of) Qolagiri Monastery. The rock-cut caves of the monastery have been largely destroyed, with only a few utility rooms remaining. The stone boxes in the rocks may have been part of a cemetery. The monks used the river and a small spring in the valley for drinking water. Today, Didi Qvabebi Monastery is uninhabited and the area below the monastery is used by farmers to grow fruit and vegetables. In 2006, Didi Qvabebi Monastery was declared a "cultural monument of national importance". VeranGareja The Veran-Gareja Monastery lies eight kilometres north of Didi Qvabebi. All that remains of the monastery is a basilica built of river stones. Mraval-Tskaro - 9th century Mraval-Tskaro is one of the most important and least known monasteries of David Gareja. It was only discovered in 1995 by a Georgian expedition and named Mraval-Tskaro (numerous or several springs) because of the many springs nearby. The monastery is also known as Tetri Senakebi. The monastery is notable for the architecture of its churches, but above all for its frescoes and numerous inscriptions, which are among the oldest in the entire David Gareja monastic complex. MravalTskaro was founded as a monastery in the 9th century and consists of five different churches carved into the rock. One of the churches has a unique cylindrical dome, several frescoes and inscriptions. The other four churches have fragments of frescoes, painted hunting scenes and writings from different centuries. The oldest inscription from MravalTskaro is dated 8 September 851. It is important to know that one of the churches is situated on the highest point of the rock face and it is currently not possible to enter the church because of falling rocks. Near the monastery there are fragments of a defensive wall, the date of which has not yet been determined. It is interesting to note, however, that the settlement discovered during archaeological excavations on the defensive wall dates back to the Bronze Age, and it is not impossible that the defensive wall could also date back to pre-Christian times. Location of the monastery: Mraval-Tskaro is located in the Kvemo Kartli region, on the border with the Sagarejo municipality. Pirukughmari The caves of Pirukughmari Monastery are carved into soft sandstone and are located 4 kilometres east of Qolagiri. The caves are largely collapsed and it is impossible to reconstruct the caves and the original image of the monastery in its present state. Patara Qvabebi Patara Qvabebi is a small monastery carved into the rock, located 12 kilometres from Didi Qvabebi on the eastern side of David Gareja in the "Mtsare Khevi" valley. The monastery consists of a church with a refectory and some small utility rooms. In 2006, Patara Qvabebi Monastery was declared a "cultural monument of national importance". On following trip, you will visit david Gareja |
