Kutaisi

Bagrati Cathedral From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery * UNESCO World Heritage Site Country Georgia Type Cultural Criteria iv Reference 710 Region ** Europe and North America Inscription history Inscription 1994 (18th Session) Endangered 2010–present * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO 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. [edit] Threats to Bagrati Cathedral Improper reconstruction to return the structure back to its original use as a religious space, as ICOMOS reports it should be left as a ruin.[1] [edit] Burials George I of Georgia