Bagrati Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral ბაგრატის ტაძარი
Bagrati Cathedral
Shown within Georgia
Basic information
Location	Kutaisi, Imereti Province (Mkhare),  Georgia
Geographic coordinates	42°16′38″N 42°42′15″E / 42.2773°N 42.7043°E / 42.2773; 42.7043Coordinates: 42°16′38″N 42°42′15″E / 42.2773°N 42.7043°E / 42.2773; 42.7043
Affiliation	Georgian Orthodox Church
Region	Caucasus
Architectural description
Architectural type	Georgian; Cathedral
Completed	11th century
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iv
Designated:	1994 (18th session)
Reference #:	710
Region:	Europe
Danger:	2010–present

The Cathedral of the Dormition, or the Kutaisi Cathedral, more commonly known as Bagrati Cathedral (Georgian: ბაგრატი; ბაგრატის ტაძარი, or Bagratis tadzari), is the 11th-century cathedral church in the city of Kutaisi, the region of Imereti, Georgia. The cathedral, now in ruins, is regarded as a masterpiece in the history of medieval Georgian architecture.

A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Kutaisi, the cathedral rests upon the top of Uk’imerioni Hill. It was built in the early years of the 11th century, during the reign of King Bagrat III due to which it was called "Bagrati" Cathedral, i.e., Bagrat’s cathedral. An inscription on the north wall reveals that the floor was laid in "chronicon 223", i.e., 1003. In 1692, it was devastated in an explosion by the Ottoman troops, which had invaded the Kingdom of Imereti. The incident caused the cupola and ceiling to collapse leaving the cathedral in its present state.

The conservation and restoration works, as well as archaeological studies, which began in 1952, are still underway. In 1994, the Bagrati Cathedral, together with the Gelati Monastery, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as a single entity. In 2001, the cathedral was restored to the Georgian Orthodox Church. It is now of limited use for worship services, but attracts many pilgrims and tourists. It is also frequently used as a symbol of the whole city of Kutaisi, being one of its main tourist attractions.

Threats to Bagrati Cathedral

The ongoing reconstruction aimed at returning Bagrati Cathedral back to its original state as a religious space has led ICOMOS to recommend that it should be left as a ruin and added to the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites in danger.^[1] UNESCO considered the rebuilding damaged "the integrity and authenticity of the site",^[2] and in a later report urged the state authorities to develop a rehabilitation strategy that would reverse some of the changes, though acknowledging that the interventions may be "almost irreversible".^[3]

As of May 2012, construction of the drum was well underway against the wishes of UNESCO. The addition of a drum and dome has sparked concerns that it may weaken and stress the original walls of the cathedral with the added weight above as well as undermine the integrity and authenticity of the site, as many recent attempts to "restore" churches and monasteries across Georgia have done in recent years.

Burials

• George I of Georgia

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bagrati Cathedral

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v t e World Heritage Sites in Georgia Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Svetitskhoveli • Jvari Monastery) · Upper Svaneti · Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery