Tea Tsulukiani, Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, said that a UNESCO expert would come to Georgia to study the current state of the Gelati Monastery complex in June, while speaking about the roof renovation works at Gelati during the Akhali Dghe program of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Tsulukiani discussed the situation created by the restoration of roof of Gelati monastery complex. He also noted that a high level UNESCO expert would assess the condition of roof of temple.
She said that the Ministry is doing everything possible to correct the mistakes made during the 2008 rehabilitation works.
The loss is large, and even to correct the shortcomings would require a large amount of human and financial resources. The shortcomings can be corrected. It will take a lot of work. “We need a qualified expert from abroad,” the Minister said.
“Despite the pandemic we have received approval by UNESCO, and in June a renowned expert specializing in monument roofing will visit us and make an assessment,” added she.
The Monastery of Gelati, founded in 1106 and located in the west of Georgia is a masterpiece of Georgia’s Golden Age, a period of political and economic strength between the 11th century and the 13th century. It is characterized with the facades of large blocks that are hewn smoothly, proportions that are balanced and blind arches as exterior decoration.
The main temple at the World Heritage Site Gelati Monastery Complex has been damaged. The tiles of the newly-roofed Church of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary were broken. Water rushed into the Temple and the wall paintings were soaked. After drying, the fragments from the painting fell. Gelati cannot be restored, according to specialists.
By Ana Dumbadze
Image source: 1TV
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