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Gergeti Trinity Church Gergeti Trinity Church is one of the absolute highlights of Georgia due to its location, architecture and impressive history. History of Gergeti Trinity church The Trinity Church of Gergeti was built in the 14th century under King Giorgi V as a symbol of the religious revival and reunification of Georgia after its liberation from the Mongols. Over the centuries, the church has witnessed some of the country's turbulent history and has been damaged several times, but its inaccessible location has saved it from destruction. Today it is one of the few churches in Georgia that has been preserved in its original state without major alterations. During the Soviet era, the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti lost its religious function and was used as a mountain hut for mountaineers who wanted to climb Mount Kazbek. The church was reconsecrated during the Soviet era, in 1980, and regular services have been held there ever since. In the 1990s a monastery was founded here, which also belongs to the church. Complex and architecture The complex of buildings consists of the main church, a bell tower, the council building and the ramparts. Architecturally, the main church is a cross-domed church with a height of 18 metres, a length of 15.6 metres and a width of 12 metres. It has a rectangular floor plan, with the dome resting on the two free-standing columns to the west and the walls of the eastern apse. The church is built of well-cut stone, and each stone has square sides. The façade and the dome of the church are decorated with Georgian ornaments. The bell tower is 18 metres high and, like the church, dates from the 14th century. The tower is built of hewn stone and decorated with Georgian ornaments. The Town Hall dates from the 14th century and, like the church and bell tower, is built of dressed stone. The building was originally intended for meetings of the village and valley elders: important decisions for the region were made here over the centuries. Today the building is used as a residence for the monks. To the south of the bell tower, outside the walls, the Council Building is well integrated into the hill, making it almost invisible from a distance. The low basalt and shale defensive wall dates from the last century and was built on the foundations of the old XIV century wall. Interior Gergeti Church The church was decorated with frescoes shortly after its completion, but unfortunately very few have survived. In 2006, during restoration work, frescoes of Jesus, St John the Baptist and St Nino from the 16th century were discovered. There is a "miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary" in the church. In a church fire a long time ago, the icon was the only thing in the church that survived. It is believed that Mary put her hand on the fire and extinguished it. If you look closely at the icon, you can see that the icon is damaged by the fire, but the hand of the Mother of God is not damaged at all. The feast of the Virgin Mary is celebrated in Georgia on 28 August. On this day many pilgrims come to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti to pay homage to the "Miraculous Icon of the Virgin Mary". There are also other icons of saints in the church, such as the Virgin Mary, St Nino, the Holy Trinity and others. The church has few openings and windows, which can be explained by the heavy snowfall and cold in winter, and therefore little sunlight enters the church. Name of the church Different names are used for the church, such as Sameba Church, Kazbegi Church, Gergeti Church, etc. The correct name for the church in Georgian "Gergetis Zminda Samebis Eklesia". What is the Trinity? The Church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and the Trinity, sometimes referred to as the Godhead, is the unity of God's essence in three persons in Christian theology. These are called "Father" (God the Father), "Son" (Jesus Christ or the Son of God), and "Holy Spirit" (the Spirit of God). The Trinity expresses their distinction and, at the same time, their indissoluble unity. Why Gergeti? The present village of Stepantsminda, for a long time also known as Kazbegi, is divided into two parts by the river Tergi (Terek). The right side was called Stepantsminda and the left Gergeti. Because the church is on the Gergeti side, and because the inhabitants of Gergeti had a special duty to look after the church, pay for its maintenance and protect it in case of need, the church was also named Gergeti. The inhabitants of Gergeti were also called "Children of the Church" (Sakdris-schwilebi). In 1966, Stepantsminda (then Kazbegi) incorporated the village of Gergeti, but the name of the church remained unchanged. What makes Gergeti church so special 1. Highest cross-domed church in the Caucasus At 2,170 metres above sea level, the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti is the highest cross-domed church in the Caucasus. 2. Treasury of the Georgian church Due to its location, the church was very difficult to access, so during times of crisis in the country, during Ottoman or Persian invasions, valuable treasures and relics of the Georgian Church were kept there. 3. The first re-consecrated church in the Soviet era, the Day of Love and the Gergetoba Festival On 16 July 1980 (10 years before the collapse of the Soviet Union), Georgian Patriarch Ilia II consecrated the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti. He said that he had never felt such love and closeness to God. Since then, the popular festival of Gergetoba has been celebrated on 16 July to commemorate the re-consecration of the church. On this day, the Georgian Patriarch himself presides over the liturgy in the Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti. July 16 has also been declared a day of love throughout the country. 4. Exceptionally beautiful location The Trinity Church of Gergeti is located above the village of Stepantsminda, at the foot of Mount Kazbek (5,047 metres). Opposite the church, on the other side of the valley, is the rocky mountain of Kuro (4,071 metres). This fantastic combination makes the location of the church a very special place. 5. most visited and most photographed church in the country The Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti is a place of pilgrimage in Georgia and the faithful try to have been there at least once. Many hikers also come to the church, as there are numerous hiking trails in the area around Stepantsminda, and hiking trails also lead to Gergeti Church. As the church is located at the foot of Mount Kazbek, it is also visited by mountaineers. Due to its great location, the church is visited by many tourists and is one of the top sights in the country. Location of Gergeti Trinity church The Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti is located in the village of Stepantsminda, 170 kilometres north of Tbilisi. Interesting to know In 2018, the British newspaper The Telegraph included the Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti in its list of the most beautiful churches in the world. On following trip, you will visit Gergeti Church: |
