- Church of Saint George (Kldisubani)
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Church of Saint George
კლდისუბნის წმინდა გიორგის ეკლესია
Քարափի Սուրբ Գեւորգ Եկեղեցի
The view of the Church and Tbilisi Tower
Basic information Location 
Old Tbilisi, GeorgiaGeographic coordinates 41°41′19″N 44°48′24″E / 41.688700°N 44.806642°ECoordinates: 41°41′19″N 44°48′24″E / 41.688700°N 44.806642°E Affiliation 
Georgian Orthodox Church/Armenian Orthodox Church[1]Region Tbilisi State Georgia Province Kvemo-Kartli District Old-Tbilisi Leadership Father Michael (Kapanadze) Architectural description Architectural type single-naved church Architectural style Armenian[1] Completed 1753 The Church of Saint George (Georgian: კლდისუბნის წმ. გიორგის ეკლესია- "Kldisubnis tsminda giorgis eklesia"; Armenian: Քարափի Սուրբ Գեւորգ Եկեղեցի, or Karapi Surb Gevorg Yekeghetsi,[2] ) is an 18th century church at the foot of the Narikala citadel in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. The church is single-naved and was built in 1753.[1] Originally an Armenian Apostolic Church, the church has been appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church since the early 1990s. The Georgian Orthodox Church claims that the Armenian church was built on the site of an ancient Georgian church which was built during the reign of st. king Vakhtang Gorgasali.[3] The church was reconstructed with the help of Armenian merchant Petros Zohrabian and his wife Lolita and the restoration held by them in 1735, what makes the church one of the most important examples of Georgian-Armenian friendship and cooperation.[3]
Contents
History
The view of the church from the inner garden. Over the pass, cut in the rock, Bolnisi Cross can be seen..
According to the Georgian Orthodox Church[3] the ancient church that stood at the site of the current Church of st. Georgie in Kldisubani was built by st. king Vakhtang Gorgasali and then was part of "mother-castle ensemble".[3] The ensemble "mother-castle" existed of the Church of forty martyrs, monastery of st. Katherine, Big Church of st. George, Church of st. George in Kldisubani, church called "Jris Mama" and lower Bethlemi monastery. The Kldisubani church of st. George has reached modern days with the help of Armenian merchant Petros Zohrabian and his wife Lolita, and the restoration held by them in 1735.[4] In the year 1735 according to the map of prince Vakhushti there was a belltower at the west of the church.
In the beginning of XX-th century, there were built some residential buildings on the territory of the Church. During the Soviet era the church was abandoned and used as toy and glue workshop.[3]
Georgian appropriation in early 1990s
According to Samvel Karapetyan, a prominent Armenian researcher of Armenian architecture, the church was systematically appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.[2] The appropriation meant the removal of all traces of the Armenian history of the church: The metal Armenian ornamental crosses remained intact on the church's two cupolas until 1990;[2] In April 1990, the crosses that were seen as "Armenian" were removed;[2][dubious ] In March–April 1990, the church's main altar and another smaller altar used for baptism were destroyed;[2][dubious ] A khachkar with an inscription that was part of an interior wall was removed sometime between 1990 and 1991;[2][dubious ] Also, the Armenian inscription on the wall of the northern entrance that attests to the 1753 construction of the church disappeared in 1990.[2][dubious ]
With the help of Georgian Orthodox Church the building of the church was renewed and sanctified on the 23-d November of the year 1991. Since 2002 restorations are held. The church was strengthened, cleared, was renewed the garden.[3]
Gallery
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View of Saint George's Church from the citadel of Narikala
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View of Saint George (center left) and two other churches in Old Tbilisi: Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) (center right) and Lower Betlemi church. (far right)
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View of Old Tbilisi with the cupolas of the Church of Saint George in the foreground
References
- ^ a b c Thierry, Jean-Michel (1989) Armenian Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 586 ISBN 0-8109-0625-2
- ^ a b c d e f g Karapetyan, Samvel (1998) (in Armenian), The State Policy of Georgia and the Monuments of Armenian Culture (1988-1998) (1st ed.), Yerevan: Research on Armenian Architecture, p. I-II, ISBN 5-8080-0144-7, http://raa.am/BOOK_2/book_2_E_FrSet.htm
- ^ a b c d e f "კლდისუბნის წმ. გიორგის ეკლესია". orthodoxy.ge. pp. 1. http://www.orthodoxy.ge/tsnobarebi/tadzrebi/kldisubnis.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ Jean-Michel (1989) Armenian Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-0625-2
See also
- Cathedral of Saint George, a nearby 13th century Armenian cathedral
- Armenian architecture
- Armenians in Georgia
Contemporary Armenian Churches and Seminaries 
Armenia Etchmiadzin Cathedral · Gevorkian Theological Seminary · Gayane · Geghard · Goshavank · Hovhannavank · Hripsime · Karmravor · Kecharis · Khor Virap · Oshakan · Saghmosavank · Sanahin · Shoghakat · Tegher · Vaskenian Theological Academy · Yeghvart Yerevan: Holy Trinity · Katoghike · Saint Poghos-Petros Church · Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral · Saint John the Baptist · Saint Sargis (Kentron) · Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) · Surb Zoravor Astvatsatsin Church 
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) France Île-de-France: St. Jean-Baptiste Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Chaville · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Issy-les-Moulineaux · St. Paul and St. Peter Church, Alfortville · Holy Cross of Varak Armenian Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse · Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse · Rhône-Alpes: St. Jack Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Lyon · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Décines · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, St. Etienne · Saint Neshan Church, Charvieu-Chavagneux · Saint Sahak Church, Valence · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Valence · Armenian Apostolic Church, Grenoble · St. Nicolas Church, Romans · Armenian Apostolic Church, Vienne · Armenian Catholic Church, Lyon · Armenian Catholic Church, Valence · St. Nerses Armenian Catholic Church, Saint Chamond · Marseille and Southern France: St. Mesrob and St. Sahak Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Marseille · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Marseille · St. Garabed Church, Marseille · St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew Chruch, Marseille · St. Jack Church, Marseille · Holy Savior Armenian Apostolic Church, La Ciotat · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Nice · St. John Armenian Church, Saint-Raphaë · St. Vartan Armenian Church, Avignon · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Marseille Turkey Aghtamar · Holy Apostles Church of Kars · Holy Apostles Monastery · Horomos · Ktuts · Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) · Mren · Narekavank · Saint Bartholomew Monastery · Saint Karapet Monastery · St. Marineh Church, Mush · Tekor Basilica · Varagavank Georgia Tbilisi: Cathedral of Saint Gevorg · Church of the Holy Seal · Church of the Red Gospel · Ejmiatsin · Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) · Holy Mother of God (Mens) · Holy Mother of God (Norashen) · Saint George · Saint Gevorg of Mughni · Saint Karapet · Saint Minas · Saint Stephanos · Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin Lebanon Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia · Armenian Catholic Patriarchate ·
Beirut: Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, Beirut · Holy Cross (St. Neshan) Church, Beirut Central District · St. Elie - St. Krikor Lousavoritch Cathedral, Beirut · Saint George Armenian Apostolic Church, Beirut · Saint Hagop Church, Beirut · Saint Sarkis Church, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation , Beirut ·
Bourj Hammoud: The Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia, Bourj Hammoud · St. Mesrob Church, Bourj Hammoud · Holy Mother of God Armenian Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Saviour Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Savior Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud
Bikfaya: Armenian Apostolic Seminary at Bikfaya · Convent Of Mekhitarist Fathers, Bikfaya ·
Anjar: St. Paul Church, Anjar · Our Lady of the Rosary Armenian Catholic Church, Anjar ·
Others: Our Lady Convent Of Bzoummar · Holy Cross Church, Zalka · St. Rita Church, Mezher · Holy Pentecost Armenian Apostolic Church, Tripoli · Our Lady of Fatima Armenian Catholic Church, Zahle ·Syria Aleppo: Church of the Holy Mother of God · Cathedral of the forty martyrs of Sebastia · St. Hagop Church · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church · Holy Trinity Church · Holy Cross Church · Church of Our Lady of Annunciation · Cathedral of Our Mother of Reliefs · Damascus: St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Damascus · Our Lady of the Universe Armenian Catholic Church, Damascus · Latakia: St. Hripsime Church, Yacoubieh · St. Anna Church, Yacoubieh · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kesab · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Latakia · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Karadouran · Armenian Church, Ekizoluk · St. Stephen Church,Aramo · St. George Church, Ghnemiyeh · Our Lady of the Assumption, Kesab · Deir ez-Zor: Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor) · Ar-Raqqah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ar-Raqqah · Holy Cross Church, Abyad · Al-Hasakah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Al-Malikiyah · Holy Cross Mother of God Church, Ra's al-'Ayn · Saint John the Baptist Church, Al-Hasakah · Saint Joseph Armenian Catholic Church, Al-Qamishli · Holy Family Church, Al-Hasakah Azerbaijan Iran Saint Sargis · Saint Thaddeus · Vank Cathedral Israel Cathedral of St. James · Church of the Archangels · St. Toros Church · Chapel of Saint Helena · Saint Nicholas Monastery United States Mother Cathedral of the Western Diocese, Burbank · Saint Mary's Armenian Church, Glendale · Saint Gregory the Illuminator Catholic Church, Glendale · St. Vartan Cathedral · Saint Sarkis of Dearborn Other countries Categories:- Georgian churches in Tbilisi
- Armenian churches in Tbilisi
- Old Tbilisi
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