US Embassy funds rehabilitation of Georgian church
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The United States Embassy to Georgia will allocate $50,000 USD (87,500 GEL) for architectural rehabilitation of the Church of the Virgin at Gelati Monastery in western Georgia.
The money will be spend to conserve the church's mosaics.
The project was funded by the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program. The Fund implemented the first preservation project at Gelati Monastery in 2013. About $600,000 (about 1 million GEL) was spent on this project.
Since 2001, the US Embassy has given almost a million US dollars to preserve, protect and promote Georgian culture, the Embassy said.
Gelati Monastery, founded by King David IV 'The Builder' in 1106, is one of the most important cultural landmarks of Georgia and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gelati Monastery marked the political and economic advancement and cultural achievements of the united Georgian state, which reached its peak during the reign of King David IV 'The Builder'.
Ancient frescos at the 12th Century Gelati Monastery have been damaged by several days of heavy rain. It's understood rainwater leaked through the roof of the Monastery complex and damaged a portion of historic wall paintings.
Seven years after it was added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, the prominent 12th century Gelati Monastery in Georgia's west is back in the World Heritage List following joint work between Georgian and international cultural heritage experts.
Cultural Heritage Centre of Ilia State University has received the grant the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for restoration of ancient cave town Uplistsikhe.
Tourism infrastructure has been set up near the early seventh century Sioni Orthodox church monastery complex, in the village of Ateni, about 10 km south of Gori.