David Gareja
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David Gareja ( ka, დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a rock-hewn
Georgian Orthodox The Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია, tr), commonly ...
monastery complex located in the
Kakheti Kakheti ( ka, კახეთი ''K’akheti''; ) is a region (mkhare) formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is its capital. The region comprises eigh ...
region of Eastern
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja on the edge of
Iori Plateau The Iori Plateau ( ka, ივრის ზეგანი, ''ivris zegani''), also known as Gare-Kakheti Plateau (გარე კახეთის ზეგანი, ''gare kakhet'is zegani'') is a plateau between the Kura and Alazani rivers in ...
, some 60–70 km southeast of Georgia's capital
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face. Part of the complex of David Gareja ( Bertubani Monastery) is located on the
Azerbaijan–Georgia border The Azerbaijan–Georgia border ( az, Azərbaycan–Gürcüstan sərhədi, ka, აზერბაიჯან-საქართველოს საზღვარი, tr) is the international boundary between Azerbaijan and Georgia. It is 428& ...
and has become subject to a border dispute between the two countries. 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 David (St. David Garejeli), one of the thirteen Assyrian monks who arrived in the country at the same time. His disciples Dodo and Luciane expanded the original
lavra A lavra or laura ( el, Λαύρα; Cyrillic: Ла́вра) is a type of monastery consisting of a cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the center. It is erected within the Orthodox and other Eastern Chr ...
and founded two other monasteries known as Dodo's Rka (literally, "the horn of Dodo") and Natlismtsemeli (" the Baptist"). The monastery saw further development under the guidance of the 9th-century Georgian saint
Hilarion the Iberian Hilarion the Iberian ( ka, ილარიონ ქართველი, tr) (c. 822-875) was a Georgian monk from the Kakheti region, bishop of David Gareja. He was considered as the ''thaumaturgus'' and is venerated as a saint. His ''vita'' w ...
. The convent was particularly patronized by the Georgian royal and noble families. The 12th-century Georgian king
Demetre I Demetrius I ( ka, დემეტრე) ( 1093 – 1156), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was King of Georgia from 1125 to 1156. He is also known as a poet. He was King of United Georgian kingdom two times, first in 1125 to 1154 and second in 1155 b ...
, the author of the famous Georgian hymn '' Thou Art a Vineyard'', even chose David Gareja as a place of his confinement after he abdicated the throne. 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. 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 The Kingdom of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამეფო, tr), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in circa 1008 AD. It reached its Golden Age of political and economic ...
. 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 The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal member of ...
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. After the violent
Bolshevik The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
takeover of Georgia in 1921, the monastery was closed down and remained uninhabited. In the years of the
Soviet–Afghan War The Soviet–Afghan War was a protracted armed conflict fought in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. It saw extensive fighting between the Soviet Union and the Afghan mujahideen (alongside smaller groups of anti-Soviet ...
, the monastery's territory was used as a training ground for the Soviet military that inflicted damage to the unique cycle of murals in the monastery. In 1987, a group of Georgian students led by the young writer
Dato Turashvili David "Dato" Turashvili ( ka, დავით (დათო) ტურაშვილი) (born May 10, 1966 in Tbilisi) is a Georgian fiction writer. Biography In 1989, he was one of the leaders of the student protest action taking place at the ...
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. 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. 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. 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." 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. Baku disapproves of this land swap because of David Gareja's strategic military importance. "There is no room for territorial exchange. There are no negotiations over this issue," stated Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov. 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. He then made a controversial statement that the monastery "was home to the
Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus: mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...
ns, who are believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of Azerbaijan." This prompted a response from Georgian foreign minister
Gela Bezhuashvili Gela Bezhuashvili ( ka, გელა ბეჟუაშვილი) (born March 1, 1967) is a Georgian politician and served as the head of the Georgian Intelligence Service from February 1, 2008 to December 27, 2013. He formerly served as Minist ...
. "It is absolutely unclear to me why my colleague made these remarks," he told reporters in
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
. "His history lessons are absolutely incomprehensible. He should read up on world history." The Albanian theory is also supported by some Azerbaijani historians who are strongly opposed to transferring any part of their territory to Georgia. "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." 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." "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 The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand ''li'' wall") is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic grou ...
." Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili Mikheil Saakashvili ( ka, მიხეილ სააკაშვილი ; uk, Міхеіл Саакашвілі ; born 21 December 1967) is a Georgian and Ukrainian politician and jurist.
downplayed the dispute and said that "it can be resolved through friendly dialogue." However, Giga Bukia, a member of the Georgian parliament with the
Rightist Opposition The Right Opposition ( ka, მემარჯვენე ოპოზიცია, tr) is an alliance of Georgia's New Rights (Conservatives) and Industry will save Georgia parties. It is the only opposition group that received over seven percen ...
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. "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?" Azerbaijani officials confirmed that Azerbaijan "is open to implementation of joint projects with Georgia for the restoration of the complex." However, official suggestions that the complex could be a "shared tourist zone" have sparked indignation from the Georgian public.
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia '' Catholicos-Patriarch'' has been the title of the heads of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1010. The first Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia was Melkisedek I (1010–1033). In the 15th century the Georgian Orthodox Church was divided into t ...
Ilia II Ilia may refer to: Science and medicine *''Apatura ilia'' or lesser purple emperor, a butterfly *Ilium (bone) (plural: "ilia"), pelvic bone People * Ilia (name), numerous **Ilia II Ilia may refer to: Science and medicine *''Apatura ilia'' or ...
said that "the monastery was a holy shrine that should lie entirely on Georgian soil." A number of fresh rounds of "
border delimitation Electoral boundary delimitation (or simply boundary delimitation or delimitation) is the drawing of boundaries of electoral precincts and related divisions involved in elections, such as states, counties or other municipalities.Baku Baku (, ; az, Bakı ) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world a ...
).


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 stretches Azerbaijani-Georgian border in Jeyranchol, Gatardagh chain, north-east from Jandar lake, on the mountainous area that are 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 V 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.


Delimitation process

Delimitation and demarcation process between
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
and
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
affects the David Gareja Monastery Complex. As the complex lies along the borders, it causes a debate between the two nations. On May 14, 2019, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Lasha Darsaliya held a meeting in Baku based on the delimitation of the state border between the two countries. Following the independence of the two countries, relevant state commissions on delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia were established and 11 meetings of the Commission were held so far. Within the framework of this process, an agreement was reached on the delimitation of the most part of the Azerbaijani-Georgian border (in total ). Currently, a section including the area that the monastery complex located is the main objective for both countries. Because of strong economic and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia, both countries have peaceful intentions in the determination of borders. During a meeting held in Azerbaijan, on 27 February 2019 between President of Georgia,
Salome Zurabishvili Salome (; he, שְלוֹמִית, Shlomit, related to , "peace"; el, Σαλώμη), also known as Salome III, was a Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II, son of Herod the Great, and princess Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, an ...
and the President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev ( az, İlham Heydər oğlu Əliyev, ; born 24 December 1961) is the fourth president of Azerbaijan, serving in the post since 31 October 2003. The son and second child of the former Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev, ...
, both sides clearly emphasized consensus on delimitation process to be done by considering the existing bonds between the two countries.


Gallery

Mount Gareja 2, Georgia.jpg, Mount Gareja David Gareja, Georgia.jpg, David Gareja Lavra Image: David Garejeli (18th c. miniature).jpg, St. David of Gareja, an 18th-century miniature Image: David Gareja monastery and caves 21.jpg, David Gareja monastery and caves 21 File:Caves at the David Gareja Monastery 2022.jpg, Caves at the David Gareja monastery Image: Garejawriting.jpg, Georgian Asomtavruli inscriptions at the entrance of S. David's lavra Image: Refettorio.jpg, Refectory


Footnotes


External links


Map showing the location of individual monasteries within the David Gareja complex
* Antony Eastmond, Warwick and Zaza Skhirtladze (2001)

''The Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies''.
David Gareja Monastery Complex, Georgia - Photo Essay
a
HitchHikers Handbook
{{DEFAULTSORT:David Gareja Monastery Complex Buildings and structures in Kakheti Georgian Orthodox monasteries Christian monasteries established in the 6th century Territorial disputes of Azerbaijan Territorial disputes of Georgia (country) Azerbaijan–Georgia (country) border World Heritage Tentative List Tourist attractions in Kakheti Cave monasteries Azerbaijan–Georgia (country) relations 7 Most Endangered Programme Rock-cut architecture Lavras