Cathedral of Saint George, Tbilisi

Cathedral of Saint George

Cathedral of Saint George
Basic information
Location Tbilisi, Georgia
Geographic coordinates 41°41′21″N 44°48′32″E / 41.689242°N 44.808898°E / 41.689242; 44.808898Coordinates: 41°41′21″N 44°48′32″E / 41.689242°N 44.808898°E / 41.689242; 44.808898
Affiliation Armenian Apostolic Church
Status active
Architectural description
Architectural style Armenian
Completed 1251

The Cathedral of Saint George (Armenian: Սուրբ Գևորգ եկեղեցի, Surb Gevorg yekeghetsi; Georgian: სურბ გევორგის ეკლესია, surb gevorgis ek'lesia or სურფგევორქი, surpgevorki) is a 13th-century Armenian church in the historical quarter of Tbilisi, Georgia's capital. It is one of the two functioning Armenian churches in Tbilisi and is the cathedral of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.[1] It is located in the south-western corner of Vakhtang Gorgasali Square (Meidani) and is overlooked by the ruins of Narikala fortress.

History

St Gevorg Armenian church in Tbilisi

According to Armenian historians Hovsep Orbeli and Levon Melikset-Bek the church was founded in 1251. The date was proposed based on an Arabic inscription on a khachkar over the western door of the church yard. According to 13th century chronicler Hovhannes Erznkatsi, the church was built by Prince Umek of Karin (Erzurum).[1] Jean-Michel Thierry wrote that the cathedral was commissioned in 1251 by a wealthy merchant named Umek of Karin (Erzerum) who settled in Tiflis in the 13th century, and married Princess Mama Vahtangian, the daughter of Hasan Jalal Vahtangian, Grand Prince of Khachen (ruled 1214-1261).[2] However, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia website claims that the church existed long before 1251 and that the Arabic inscription does not prove that the church was built in the 13th century and Hovhannes Erznkatsi refers to the church being rebuilt and not built by Umek.[1] According to Thierry, the church was thoroughly restored in the 17th century, and then again in 1832 and 1881.[2]

The most recent renovation of the church began in 2012. Initiated and financed by Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanian,[3] the renovation was supported by donations of philanthropists Albert Avdolyan, Sergey Sarkisov and Rusudan Makhashvili, Danil Khachaturov, former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, and others.[4] Some $3.5 million was spent on its renovation, which was completed in 2015.[5] The cathedral was reconsecrated on October 31, 2015 by Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Church. The ceremony was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.[6]

Architecture and frescoes

The cathedral is built on a traditional plan of a partitioned, open cross with a rectangular perimeter. Like most of the churches in Tbilisi, it is built in brick.[2]

Late 18th-century painting by Hovnatan Hovantanian decorate the church's interior.[2] Between 1922 and 1923 Gevorg Bashinjaghian decorated the church's internal walls, the altar, and the walls in front of it, creating four large murals: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, The Repentance of Judas, Jesus and the Boatmen, Harvest time.[1]

The outer walls of the church is covered with stucco.[1]

Burials

Burials of four Armenian generals (left) and the tomb of Sayat-Nova to the right of the entrance

The following people are buried at the church courtyard:[1]

Including the following Russian generals of Armenian origin:[1][7]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Gevorg Armenian Church, Old Tbilisi.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Tbilisi Surb Gevorg Church - First-throned Surb Maryam Astvatsatsin or Big Fortress Church". armenianchurch.ge. Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Thierry, Jean-Michel (1989). Armenian Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 317. ISBN 0-8109-0625-2.
  3. ↑ "Ռուբեն Վարդանյանի նախաձեռնությամբ վերանորոգվում է Թբիլիսիի Սուրբ Գեւորգ եկեղեցին" (in Armenian). Armenpress. 4 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Armenian President to attend Tbilisi St. Gevorg Church consecration". mediamax.am. 30 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Armenian church in Tbilisi to be reconsecrated". news.am. 31 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "President Sargsyan attends Armenian church reconsecration in Tbilisi". news.am. 31 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Посохальная Книга Армянской Епархии в Грузии. Норашен (in Russian). 5 (11): 36. 2007.
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