Gergets Church: a description of the Georgian sights

Georgia is a country worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Culture, cuisine of the state is fascinating with its splendor. But most of all they surprise and amaze the sights. One of them is the Gerget Church, located in the northern part of Georgia. The exact location of the temple is the foot of Mount Kazbek. The Gergets church is called because it was built in the village of Gergeti, on the right bank of the river Cheheri. This is an amazing building, from which the acquaintance with the architecture and cultural heritage of Georgia begins.

From the history of the temple

The Gergets church, whose full name is the Gergeti temple of the Holy Trinity, or the Cross-domed temple of Gergetis Tsminda Sameba, was built in the XIV century. The location of the iconic building was the historic district of Hevi. Apart from this cathedral stands the bell tower, which also belongs to this period.

For the first time the Gerget Church was mentioned in the XVIII century, namely in 1795. In those days, when Georgia suffered from invasions of Persians led by Aga Mohammed Khan, and the city of Tbilisi in general was almost completely destroyed, many relics, including the cross of St. Nina, were hidden in the church of the Holy Trinity .

The Trinity Church during the period of the existence of the Soviet Union was inactive. In 1988, before the cathedral, a cable car was built from the village of Kazbegi. But soon it was dismantled because of the demands of the local population. Today the church is restored, and the Georgian Orthodox Church knows them. It is also a functioning monastery.

A bit about the bas-reliefs of the temple

The Gergets church, like most religious buildings, is rich in various bas-reliefs, which will certainly arouse interest and delight not only among ordinary tourists, but also among specialists in religious symbolism. Among the bas-reliefs there are also kukbi and other various ornaments.

One of the bas-reliefs located on the bell tower is of special interest. On the western side of the structure are recreated some terrible creatures, somewhat resembling chameleons. These are images of vishapas. They were once deities, but with the advent of Christianity, all turned into dragons, who were considered a symbol of pagan beliefs. Above, on the right side of these monsters, a cross is depicted, which symbolizes the victory of Christianity over paganism.

Inner austerity of the cathedral

The Gergeti Church (Georgia) outside is a unique structure. But inside this is a poor, even austere building, the walls of which are devoid of finishes, frescoes and even plaster. Because of its location, there is no electric lighting in the cathedral. Through the small windows in the building there is very little light, and therefore there is always a reign of twilight. Combined with ascetic design, he adds a touch of mysticism to the temple.

Outside, on a mountain background, the church evokes indescribable impressions.

Interesting information about the church

In the guidebook of 1906 the publication indicates that the cathedral stores a silver ram - one of the pagan idols. There is even an opinion that the relic is carefully hidden by representatives of the clergy, who wrapped it in a stole. This information is already more than a hundred years old, and today it has not been confirmed. But scientists argue that even if the relic existed, it was taken away from here in communist times.

The Trinity Church is mentioned in the work of Alexander Pushkin "Monastery on Kazbek".

Tourists will be extremely hard, and even impossible to make a good photo of the sights. Inside, it is forbidden to shoot on a camera or video camera. Photographing the temple from below does not work, and near the building is quite a bit of space, so that it fell into the frame entirely. To make a really perfect picture is possible only from the top of the neighboring mountain, climb up which few travelers solve.

Among the climbers who are trying to get to the Kazbek mountain, there is a tradition: for the first night they have to stop near the church. This helps to get used to the altitude and will prepare for the next ascent.

How to get there

If the Gerget Church is planned on the way of your tourist route at the foot of Mount Kazbek (Georgia) and its visit, then you need to prepare for a tedious journey. After all, getting to the monastery is equally difficult both by car and on foot.

If you decide to go by car, then it is worth a powerful off-road car, as there is no asphalt road to the construction. Well, on foot the road is the following: first you will have to overcome the village of Gergeti, then cross a small forest serpentine, and then you will be lifted up a mountain along a path lying at a great angle.

In dry weather, the path can be cut using a forest path leading straight up. This path is behind the village cemetery. In total, the entire journey will take about two hours.

Also to the designated place can deliver a minibus, however, not up to the building itself (you will still have to walk a certain distance), or a taxi.