Bagrati Street, Kutaisi, Georgia
Daily: 9.00am - 8.00pm
The Cathedral of the Dormition, which is more affectionately known as Bagrati Cathedral, was built under the reign of King Bagrat III in 1003. It suffered heavy damages throughout the centuries, but with conservation efforts in place, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
From
Gelati Monastery, my BFF and I went back to town on the same cab. When we arrived at the cathedral, we told our driver using body language that he didn't need to bring us back to the hotel. We thanked him and paid the agreed amount of
GEL 40.00 (~S$21.45).
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| Compared to Gelati Monastery, there were many more people at the cathedral that afternoon. |
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| The cathedral was devastated in an explosion by Ottoman troops in 1692. |
The cathedral is regarded as a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture.
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| A mix of old and new stones and a few steel sections were used during the major restorative work from 2009 to 2012. |
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| The bell tower has been a silent witness to the destruction of the main building. |
The interior isn't as awe-inspiring as that of Gelati Monastery, but it does have its own charm.
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| The seat of a bishop is called a cathedra. |
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| Flickering candle flames~ |
There are quite a number of captivating artifacts and paintings inside the cathedral.
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| Shadow of the Almighty~ |
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| Who's that saint riding a white horse? |
Before you leave, you may want to check out what's on sale at the small souvenir shop near the main door.
I don't know why, but there's something poignant about the following photo of a cross overlooking the city. Perhaps it's just me.
In 2001, a transfer of ownership of the cathedral was done from the state to the Georgian Orthodox Church.
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