David Gareja monastery complex

Coordinates: 41°26′50″N 45°22′35″E / 41.4473°N 45.3765°E / 41.4473; 45.3765
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
David Gareji
დავით გარეჯი
Georgian; Monastery
FounderSt. David of Gareji
Funded bySaint Ilarion during the 9th century, Georgian royal and noble families
Groundbreaking6th century
Completed6th century, 9th century

David Gareji (

Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja on the edge of Iori Plateau, some 60–70 km southeast of Georgia's capital Tbilisi
. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face.

Part of the complex of David Gareji (Bertubani Monastery) is located on the Azerbaijan–Georgia border and has become subject to a border dispute between the two countries.[1] The area is also home to protected animal species and evidence of some of the oldest human habitations in the region.

History

The complex was founded in the 6th century by

Thou Art a Vineyard
, even chose David Gareja as a place of his confinement after he abdicated the throne.

One of the monastery's surviving wall paintings.

Despite the harsh environment, the monastery remained an important centre of religious and cultural activity for many centuries; at certain periods the monasteries owned extensive agricultural lands and many villages.[2] The renaissance of wall painting chronologically coincides with the general development of the life in the David Gareja monasteries. The high artistic skill of David Gareja wall paintings made them an indispensable part of world treasure. From the late 11th to the early 13th centuries, the economic and cultural development of David Gareja reached its highest phase, reflecting the general prosperity of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia. New monasteries Udabno, Bertubani and Chichkhituri were built, the old ones were enlarged and re-organized.

With the downfall of the Georgian monarchy, the monastery suffered a lengthy period of decline and devastation by the Mongol army (1265), but was later restored by the Georgian kings. It survived the Safavid attack of 1615, when the monks were massacred and the monastery's unique manuscripts and important works of Georgian art destroyed, to be resurrected under Onopre Machutadze, who was appointed Father Superior of David Gareja in 1690.

David-Gareja Mountain and Monastery (Mont Gouredgia) as depicted on 1723 map by Guillaume Delisle and Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani

After the violent

Dato Turashvili[citation needed] launched a series of protests. Although, the Soviet defense ministry officials finally agreed to move a military firing range from the monastery, the shelling was resumed in October 1988, giving rise to generalized public outrage. After some 10,000 Georgians demonstrated in the streets of Tbilisi and a group of students launched a hunger strike at the monastery, the army base was finally removed.[3]

Locations of Monasteries founded by the thirteen Assyrian fathers in the mid 6th century Iberia. One of them is Gareja[citation needed]

After the restoration of Georgia's independence in 1991, the monastery life in David Gareja was revived. However, in 1996, the Georgian defense ministry resumed military exercises in the area, leading to renewed public protests. In May 1997, hundreds of Georgian NGO activists set up their tents in the middle of the army's firing range and blocked the military maneuvers. The army officials finally bowed to the public pressure and the exercises were banned.[4]

The monastery remains active today and serves as a popular destination of tourism and pilgrimage.

Georgian monastery complex

Because the complex is partially located on the territory of Azerbaijan, it has become subject to a border dispute between Georgia and Azerbaijan, with ongoing talks since 1991.[5] Georgian monks at the monastery say that "they see the dispute as the result of Soviet scheming to undermine relations between Christian Georgians and Muslim Azerbaijanis."[1] Giorgi Manjgaladze, Georgia's deputy foreign minister proposed that Georgia would be willing to exchange other territory for the remainder of David Gareja because of its historical and cultural significance to the Georgians.[1] Baku disapproves of this land swap because of David Gareja's strategic military importance.[6] "There is no room for territorial exchange. There are no negotiations over this issue," stated Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov.[1] In April 2007, Khalafov told a press conference in that it was "out of the question" for Georgia to "give up its claims to the borderlands" including David Gareja.[1] He then made a controversial statement that the monastery "was home to the Caucasian Albanians, who are believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of Azerbaijan."[7] This prompted a response from Georgian foreign minister Gela Bezhuashvili. "It is absolutely unclear to me why my colleague made these remarks," he told reporters in Tbilisi. "His history lessons are absolutely incomprehensible. He should read up on world history."[5]

The Albanian theory is also supported by some Azerbaijani historians who are strongly opposed to transferring any part of their territory to Georgia.[7] "The monastery was inside Georgia only in the 12th century," stated Ismail Umudlu, an Azerbaijani journalist and historian. "Both before and after this period, the area was part of a state to which Azerbaijan is a successor."[6] Georgian art historian Dimitri Tumanishvili dismissed this claim and stated that the complex "is covered in the work of Georgian masters." "There are Georgian inscriptions everywhere dating back to the sixth century," he said "There are no traces of another culture there. After that, I don’t think you need any further proof."[6] "The idea that this monastery was founded by the Caucasus Albanians is simply absurd," said Zaza Datunashvili, a monk from David Gareja. "You might as well say that Georgians built the Great Wall of China."

A part of the complex on the Georgian-Azerbaijan dispute Borderline. St.Georgian martyr monks church

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili downplayed the dispute and said that "it can be resolved through friendly dialogue."[5] However, Giga Bukia, a member of the Georgian parliament with the Rightist Opposition stated that "Georgians will never, under any circumstances, give up this territory" and also accused the government of softening its position on the complex in order to secure financial aid from Azerbaijan.[5] "Azerbaijan has absolutely no historical rights to this land," he said. "And what is this talk of it being a strategic location? Are they planning to go to war with Georgia?"[5]

Azerbaijani officials confirmed that Azerbaijan "is open to implementation of joint projects with Georgia for the restoration of the complex."

border delimitation" talks have been conducted between Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities (in Tbilisi and then in Baku).[1]

Keshikchidag Reserve

The part of David Gareja monastery complex that is located in Azerbaijan has a historical and cultural reserve status according to the presidential order No.2563 dated December 19, 2007 and named as State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Keshikcidag". There are 70 caves, 2 temples, one fortress, a sacred place, approximately 100 grave reminds kurgan, 23 water wells, 14 food stores, and about 30 shelters. One of the highest altitudes in the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Keshikcidag was named "Ilham Aliyev peak" in honor of the President of Azerbaijan. The reserve covers approximately 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) stretches Azerbaijani-Georgian border in Jeyranchol, Gatardagh chain, 15 km (9.3 mi) north-east from Jandar lake, on the mountainous area that are 750–950 m (2,460–3,120 ft) above sea level. The reserve consists of natural and artificial caves, castle and monastery carved in Early and Middle Ages. According to the Azerbaijani side, Keshikchi gala (Guardian castle) was built by the native population of Caucasus Albania in the 5th century AD and meant “guardian”. Therefore, it is considered as similar to the other castles in Azerbaijan territory because of its architectural structure characteristics. It was discovered that the Keshikchi gala in the area was originally built for defense purposes in the Middle Ages, where it was inhabited by the ancient Caucasian Albanian. The natural caves date back in the early stages and the artificial caves are considered to be found between in 9th and 15th centuries.[8][9][10][11][12]

Delimitation process

Delimitation and demarcation process between

Salome Zurabishvili and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, both sides clearly emphasized consensus on delimitation process to be done by considering the existing bonds between the two countries.[13][14]

Gallery

  • Mount Gareja
    Mount Gareja
  • David Gareja Lavra
    David Gareja Lavra
  • St. David of Gareja, an 18th-century miniature
    St. David of Gareja, an 18th-century miniature
  • David Gareja monastery and caves 21
    David Gareja monastery and caves 21
  • Caves at the David Gareja monastery
    Caves at the David Gareja monastery
  • Georgian Asomtavruli inscriptions at the entrance of S. David's lavra
    Georgian Asomtavruli inscriptions at the entrance of S. David's lavra
  • Refectory
    Refectory

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Diana Petriashvili and Rovshan Ismayilov (2006-11-03). "Georgia, Azerbaijan Debate Control of Ancient Monastery's Territory". Eurasia.Net. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  2. ISBN 1-884446-00-0
    .
  3. ISBN 0-521-00148-X
  4. ISBN 0-7923-6218-7
  5. ^
    Middle East Times. Archived from the original
    on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  6. ^ a b c Idrak Abbasov and David Akhvlediani (2007-03-29). "Monastery Divides Georgia and Azerbaijan". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  7. ^ a b Nino Edilashvili (2007-04-12). "Border Dispute Breaks Harmony between Azerbaijan and Georgia". The Georgian Times. Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  8. ^ ""Keşikçidağ" Dövlət Tarix-Mədəniyyət Qoruğu". www.azculture.az. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  9. ^ "Excursions to historical-cultural reserves". www.europeanheritagedays.com.
  10. ^ "State Cultural and Historical Reservation "KESHIKCHIDAGH"". azerbaijan360.az.
  11. ^ "Keshikchidagh State Historical and Cultural Reserve". museu.ms.
  12. ^ ""Keşikçidağ"da araşdırmalara ehtiyac var". anl.az.
  13. ^ "Azerbaijan and Georgia to delimit 180km of border". vestnikkavkaza.net. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  14. ^ "Azerbaijani, Georgian presidents made press statements". en.president.az.

External links

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