The monastery complex in the village of Alaverdi is a monument of medieval architecture, included in the top attractions of Georgia.
In the village of Alaverdi, 20 km from Telavi, there is a monastery complex whose main building is the Cathedral. On the territory of the complex there are many buildings for various purposes - a palace, a chapel, a bathhouse, built in the Middle Ages
Visit the Alaverdi Cathedral in Kakheti⬇️
In the sunny land of wine and vineyards, Kakheti, stands the majestic Alaverdi Cathedral. It was located in the Alazani Valley near the village of Alaverdi. Wine lovers and experienced sommeliers often come to the valley, but in addition to the traditional drink, there is much to see in Georgia. The valley is located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains of the Caucasus Range.
You can get here from Telavi. There are shuttle buses and cabs from the city and it takes only 10-15 minutes to get there, as the settlement is only 20 kilometers from the city.
The Cathedral
The Alaverdi Cathedral is one of the largest of Georgia's religious architecture. It rises 50 meters above the ground, and its size is already impressive. The entire building is built of handmade bricks.
The cathedral does not stand alone, it is a whole architectural complex. The ensemble consists of Alaverdi St. George's Cathedral, which occupies a central position, next to the attached chapel, stands the palace of Khan Peikar, and you can also see a medieval bath and a wine cellar. The palace of Khan Peikar is worthy of close attention. It is a three-storey building, the first floor is a refectory, with high ceilings, the support of which goes to the floor in the form of an arch. Living rooms have an interesting form - they are octagonal, with arched ceilings and many rooms. The entire area is guarded by a fortress, which was built much later than the main buildings - in the 17-18th centuries.
The founder of the cathedral of Alaverdi is Joseph Alaverdelia - one of the holy fathers of the ancient people of Asia, who lived in the mid-6th century AD.
Almost five centuries later, in the 11th century, King Kvirike took it upon himself to expand the church ensemble: he built a more massive monastery in place of the small church of St. George.
The cathedral in Alverdi is an outstanding example of medieval architecture, which rightfully belongs to the most beautiful places of Georgia. This place is filled with the atmosphere of the ancient country, its traditions and mores, which are reflected in every element of the monumental construction.
The monastery complex hosts many important events for the church life, one of them is Alaverdoba. The celebration takes place at the beginning of autumn, from September to October. People of different nationalities gather for the festival, including people from Georgia, Kisti, Dagestan and many others.
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History
According to historical sources, the exact date of the monastery's construction dates back to the 6th century, with Joseph Alaverdeli, one of the Assyrian fathers, in charge of the construction.
Several centuries later, the monarch who ruled the country in the 11th century, Kvirike, rebuilt the building, greatly increasing the scale of the original church. Thanks to the actions of the Kakhetian king, one can now see one of the most impressive cathedrals of the country.
From this time (11th century) the cathedral became the center of ecclesiastical life in Kakheti, it became the central representation of the heads of the diocese. Not only the first persons of Georgian religion, but also representatives of the monarchal family resided here. Later in the cathedral was organized the royal tomb.
Because of the high seismic activity of the region the cathedral was subjected to regular earthquakes, which affected its integrity. It was repeatedly restored, a large-scale restoration was carried out only in the second half of the 15th century, during the reign of King Alexander. As a result of the work, the main dome and walls were restored.
In the first half of the 18th century as a result of a strong earthquake the cathedral was significantly damaged, its restoration was engaged by Queen Tamara, and after her death it was engaged in the restoration of one of the most beautiful cathedrals of Herakliy II.
In 1966 research was conducted on the territory of the cathedral, during the clearing of the walls were discovered frescoes from different epochs. The oldest are paintings from the 11th century, frescoes from later periods can be seen on the south side of the monastery. They date from the 15th-16th centuries, while the "youngest" frescoes date from the 16th-17th centuries and are located on the west and north walls of the cathedral.
Originally the cathedral was a men's monastery; later, in the 17th-18th centuries, a women's monastery was organized here as well, where even some members of the royal family lived.
The cathedral also produced literary activities, many works of eminent Georgian chroniclers were created in this very place.
Legend
The sights of Georgia have not only a rich history, but also fascinating legends, the medieval Alaverdi Cathedral is no exception.
The legend describing the creation of the monastery tells how once the ruler - Nagara Khan, went hunting with his faithful assistant falcon. The falcon spotted a pheasant and flew at it, at that moment passing by monk Joseph - one of the twelve Assyrian fathers - he hid the pheasant from the clawed paws of the bird of prey. When Nagara Khan noticed what the monk had done, he ran up to Joseph and demanded to give him the pheasant, to which the monk refused, for insubordination Khan decided to take the life of both the monk and the bird, which he had hidden. When Nagara Khan raised his hand with his sword, it turned into ice. The ruler demanded healing from the monk, for which he promised to fulfill his every wish, Joseph agreed and helped the khan; in return, he asked for a church to be built in the valley in the name of St. George, and his wish was granted.
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