On May 27, an excursion to Imereti for the first-year students of the faculties of Theological Seminary, Christian Art Theory and History, and Christian Psychology was organized by the Department of History of Georgia of Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary.
The excursionists visited St. George Cathedral in Ubisi. The Dean of the Theological Seminary, Priest Giorgi Vashalomidze recounted the history of the cathedral to the students and introduced its unique frescoes.
On the way to their destinations, the Head of the Department of History of Georgia, Doctor of Theology and History, Professor Sergo Vardosanidze spoke about the material and cultural heritage of the towns of Zestaponi, Kharagauli and Terjola, introducing the lives and work of great figures who originally hailed from that region.
The students were specially welcomed by Lasha Deisadze-Sharvashidze, a resident of Kutaisi, a young researcher of History of the Church of Georgia and a professor in Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi, who delivered a lecture on the topic: History of the Diocese of Kutaisi and Gaenati; Bagrati-Motsameta-Gelati.
In Kutaisi, the students visited another church of St. George. The Dean of the church, Archpriest Vakhtang Zhorzholiani spoke about its history and recalled the years of his service in the Diocese of Tskhum-Abkhazeti during the initial incumbency of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bitchvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, Ilia II, as governor of that diocese.
In Motsameta, along with the prayers offered in the monastery, the students recalled the most difficult period in the history of Georgia - the 8th century, and the heroism of David and Konstantine Mkheidze, Princes of Argveti.
Due to the ongoing restoration work in the Gelati Monastery Complex, the excursionists were not given the opportunity to offer their prayers inside the temple, but the conversation at its gates about St. King David the Restorer and his immeasurable legacy in the history of our country turned out to be even more impressive.
The excursion was organized with the funding of TTAS.