By Nana Chutkerashvili
In Kutaisi, in Imereti, on the right side of the river, looking over the
city from a high hill, stands an ancient, striking church – Bagrati. The hill
on which Bagrati stands is called ,,Gora’’ (a hill) and it is located so high
that in order to get to the church, you will have to walk up the stairs for
quite a while.
People in Kutaisi say that there are many reasons why the location of
the church and a long journey up the stairs is good; according to MziaKuchava,
a professor from Kutaisi, ,,You have to suffer first, and then you will get
what you want and deserve. This is what we believe’’
For older people there are seats on the way to the church so they can
rest, but the young people never tend to use those seats.
Bagrati Cathedral was built in the early years of the 11th century
during the reign of King Bagrat III. Like most of the other churches in
Georgia, Bagrati has a shape of a cross. This church did not have a ceiling for
a long time. Its ceiling was damaged and destroyed in the year 1691 when the
Ottomans attacked Georgia and the rest of the church, in small parts, were also
damaged in the nineteenth century. The Ottomans not only destroyed half of the
church, but they also stole the treasures that were located in Bagrati. From Bagrati, a beautiful landscape spreads
before your eyes. The ancient church in green looks absolutely magical. In
Bagrati you feel closer to God then anywhere else.
