PILGRIMAGE TO ORTHODOX TREASURES OF GEORGIA. 11 -18 MAY 2020
31-01-2020
Program of Pilgrimage to Holy Places of Orthodox Georgia 11 – 18 may (8 days/ 7 nights)
11 May, Monday
Arrival to Kutaisi, Meeting at the airport.
General tourist excursion around Kutaisi which old capital of Kalhid and Imeritin Kingdoms. 2 nd city of importance in Georgia, seat of Georgian Kings until 12 century. Visit to Bagrati Cathedral (build 975-1014). Hotel, dinner.
12 May, Tuesday. Leaving hotel with belongings after breakfast.
Visit to Motsameta monastery, build on the place where muslim invaders martered in 8 c Georgian princes David and Konstantin Mheidze, for their refusal to convert to islam.
Visit to monastery Gelati, which has been build in 1106 by David, the Constructor, is spiritual and sciene centre of medeival Georgia. Also place of rest of Georgian Kings. It is 11 km fom Kutaisi and designated as UNESCO site of World importance.
Ubisa Cathedral (9c), has 12 c tower, most famous for its 14 c fresques, fine example of paleologial fresques.
Transfer to town of Mtsheta, hotel, dinner.
13 of May, Wednesday.
Liturgy at Svetitsveli Cathedral of Live Giving Column in town of Mtsheta. Medieval Cathedral of 11 c has been built at the site of very first Georgian Christian Church 4 c which has been built at the place where St Nina of Georgia gave her first sermon. Tradition says that Our Saviors Hood hidden somewhere in this place. Coming back to Hotel for breakfast.
Monastery of Samtavro - extraordinary place of 11 c is still live womens monastery, place of burial cof King Mirian and his wife Nana, which are known to be first Georgian Christians, who were
baptized by Nina herself at 326 AD. Monastery is the burial place of St Gabriel of Georgia - the most venerated Georgian Saints. His relics are most visited in Georgia.
Monastery Shio Mgvme. The very first monastic community has been esatblished here by monk Shio around 6 c. Shio is one ofthe 30 Assyrian fathers, who arroved to Syria as missioners.
Shio spent his last years at the deep cave as a recluse, the cave these days called ShioMgvime (Shio's cave).
Coming back to hotel, dinner.
14 of May, Thursday.
Breakfast.
Monastery Of St Nino at Bodbe - monastic community of buildings of St George - is a Georgian National Treasure. Here at the Cathedral of St George, we will venerate the relics of St NIno of Kkapokiya - great enlighter or Georgia. Possibility to emmerse into St Nino Holy Spring.
Transfer to town of Singhaki. Ethnographic nuseum, which has paintings by Pirosmani and Gudiashvili.
Mostarey of Nekresi, which is located high up in the mountains. Georgins says that this monastery is like batterfly flying above the Earth. At the hill below there is a site of an ancient town which existed upto 6 c, which has been visited by Aviv, Bishop Nekress. Up in the mountais he decide to found monastery. The town is not there any more, but monastery is still here, with its most beautiful view across the Valley of Alazane.
Monastery of Alaverdyu, with Cathedral St George, 11 c. the monastery has been founded around 6 c by one of the Assyrian Fathers - Joseph of Alavedyu.
Coming back to hotel. Dinner.
15 may, Friday.
Breakfast. Jovari - the Monastery Of The Cross. There at the highest mountain peak, St Nina (who brought Christianity to Goergia) contructed a great wooden cross right above the Pagan place of worship. Two centuries after this event, the Churcjh has been built at the place of the Cross.
the Church has the shape of Tetraconge - Cross in the Sqaure which round aspids at the ends.
Visit to Sameba, which is Principal Cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church (built in 1995-2004).
Visit to Metehi Church, which is located at he adge of the stony bank of river Kura - it has been for centuries place of recluse and burial place of many Georgian Kings. This Church also has thevery first martur of Georgia - Queen Shishanika of Ransk, she has been killed by his husband in 5 c, who was Pagan who worshipped fire.
Mtatsminda (Holy Hill) - is a panteon of most important writers and people of georgia, most heroes of Georgia, scientists buried there. The Nekropolis of the Panteon is located around Church of St David. One of the notable graves there is of Alexander Griboedov (1795—1829) and his wife Nono Chavchadse. Visit of Museum of Arts after Shalva Aamiranshvili. It has great collection of Georgian Gold from Antique times, also tresures and icons of Christian epoch.
Dinner at the hotel.
16 May, saturday.
Brakfast
Visit of anchient Church of nativity of Mother of God, biult at 6 th century by Kind Dachi. Prominent icon, to which this church has been dedicated is now located at Museum of Art in Tbilisi.
Visit of Sioni Cathedral cathedral 5-7 c. It has the most important holy relic of Georgia - Cross, made by St Nino. The cross is made of Vine wood and the pieaces were connected by the saints own hair. Another important relic is a head of Holy Apostle Thomas.
Trip to Old town of Tbilisi, walk along Ingir Valley.
Dinner at hotel.
17th May Sunday
take away breakfast. Departing hotel with belongins.
Liturgy in the Church in Samtavisi - most famous architectural marvel of georgia.
Built in 1030 by Hillarion Samavnelli. Fresques from 17 c.
Trip to Gori. cathedral of St George at the top ofthe mountain. before Christiane that has been also place of Pagan place of Worship. The place has military significance and is surrounded by two sets of walls, sourrounding it from all sides.
Uplisciche - is the oldest Castle-town along the river Kura. Ithas been carved outr ofthe volcanicrocks of Kvernaki forge. The place is so ancient, it is mentioned in the textx, written 2c BC.The place has florished around 9-10c.
Visit village of Atheni. Monastery and main church has been built around 630, before arabic invasion.Inside are the fresques of Golden Era, around 1080.
Transfer to Hotel Kutaisi, dinner.
18th May, Monday.
Packaged breakfast and early leave for the airport.
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