Creative Indust.& Crafts Develop.
PRESERVATION OF MEDIEVAL MONIMENTS
THE CHURCH OF THE VIRGIN AT GELATI
12th-18th cc. Kutaisi, Georgia
An UNESCO World Heritage site
The Gelati Monastery and Academy is one of the most important religious and cultural landmarks in Georgia. Founded by King David the Builder in 1106, the monastery served throughout the medieval period as an important religious and cultural-educational center of Georgia and burial place of Georgian kings. The frescos of the Church of the Virgin reflect the creative life of the Gelati monastery from the 12th to the 18th Century. Each layer of the painting, together with its iconographic and stylistic features and its abundance of historic portraits and inscriptions, provides valuable material for the study of medieval Georgian art as well as for the culture of the entire Orthodox medieval world.2006 marks the 900th anniversary of the Gelati Monastery.
Diagnostic study and determination of restoration needs of the North & South Chapels of Gelati Monastery, 2003-2004
Funded by:
U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi,
the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation
Actions completed:
- Technical and environmental studies of the site
- Diagnostic studies and analyses to verify microbiological damage
- Full photo and graphic documentation
- Determination of conservation needs and methods of treatment
Acknowledgements: Maka Dvalishvili, Guram Cheishvili, Nana Kuprashvili, Tengiz Gabunia, Darejan Mgebrishvili, Nikolos Bantsatdze, Keti Mikeladze, Anna Shanshiashvili, Tamuna Kiknadze, E. Privalova Center "Betania" for Sicentific Research of Paintings, "Artelab S.r.l." Rome, Italy, Amiran Gogilidze, Rowena Cross-Najafi, Wendy Kennedy, Magda Magradze, the Patriarchy of Georgia, Richard Miles, US Department of State Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, Maria P. Kouroupas, Morag KerselDue to the GACC efforts Gelati Monastery and Academy is nominated for the World World MonumentsWatch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites 2008.
