Gelati Monastery is material monument of universal spiritual ideas, “uniquely combining” science, faith - Georgian PM
Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the rehabilitation of the complex. In his turn the Senaki and Chkhorotsku Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who is the Patriarch’s 'locum tenens', thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II. Photo via Government Administration
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Gelati Monastery is a material monument of universal spiritual ideas, where science and faith are combined uniquely, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Saturday at the presentation of the rehabilitation programme for the Monastery in western Georgia, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During his speech at the presentation, held in the Patriarchate of Georgia, which is managing the ongoing conservation works on the complex, Garibashvili noted secular and clerical governance, scientists and the whole nation stood together for the “sanctity” of Gelati Monastery.
The Head of the Government congratulated the audience on Independence Day and highlighted the “symbolic” significance of presenting the Monastery complex rehabilitation programme on this day, and on behalf of the Government expressed support for the Church of Georgia in the implementation of the “internationally important project”.
Gelati [Monastery] represents for everyone the inimitable spiritual and cultural heritage of our nation, [...] By creating this unique holy shrine, our great king, the legendary David IV of Georgia, initiated the implementation of the teachings of the great church figure Clement of Alexandria, that knowledge should be filled with faith and faith should become knowledge”, he noted.
Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the rehabilitation of the complex. In his turn the Senaki and Chkhorotsku Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who is the Patriarch’s 'locum tenens', thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, the Government Administration said.
By the Georgian Government’s initiative, the Patriarchate took the lead in the rehabilitation process of the monument, after there were some difficulties during the conservation works in recent years. A temporary committee was created for this purpose, which will ensure the implementation of conservation works based on the recommendations indicated in the reports of the missions of the UNESCO World Heritage Center and its advisory bodies - ICOMOS and ICCROM.
The Patriarchate of Georgia will lead the ongoing conservation works in western Georgia’s Gelati Monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the financial support of the Culture Ministry, the Ministry announced on Friday.
A report involving experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property has lamented the absence of a general project for conservation works on the Gelati World Heritage Site in Georgia's west, and urged authorities to ensure more communication with local stakeholders over ongoing issues at the monument.
The Georgian Ministry of Culture on Tuesday responded to a report by the National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation that had pointed to the process of conservation at western Georgia’s Gelati complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being “centralised” and “non-transparent” and the works being carried out through “extreme methodological violations”, by calling it “politically motivated”.
Professionals from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre will visit Georgia to issue recommendations on the ongoing rehabilitation of the Gelati Monastery Complex, following a fraught work on the site that resulted in damage to its newly installed roof and rainwater leaks last year.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday announced a new comprehensive plan would be developed for the ongoing conservation works in western Georgia’s Gelati Monastery complex, which would ensure the research-based restoration process.
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday pledged the body would investigate “all factual circumstances” around the alleged poisoning of Bishop Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens of Ilia II, the Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Christian Church.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Stephan, the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Tsageri and Lentekhi in the west, on Saturday inspected the ongoing works at the Saint Maximus the Confessor Church, built on the tomb of the theologian, Christian monk and scholar, on the border of Svaneti-Lechkhumi, in Tsageri municipality.