Discovering Monasticism in Medieval Georgia; Guided Tour

“Discovering Medieval Monasticism in Georgia; Guided Tour”

Announcing a special opportunity to visit the fabled Christian monuments of Caucasus Georgian antiquity.

Join us for a tour of more than a dozen of Georgia’s oldest monasteries, founded in the sixth century by Christian Assyrian missionaries! Be among the first westerners to rediscover the ancient architecture, frescoes, and acoustical properties of these remarkable monuments. Led by a trio of chanters, this unique tour seeks to investigate the sounds and wonder of medieval Georgia, while presenting the world-famous hospitality and traditions of modern Georgia. Seeking: world travelers, medievalists, musicians, self-educators, spiritual pilgrims, and adventurers of all varieties for a first-of-its-kind Monastery Tour at the crossroads of Europe and Asia: welcome to Caucasus Georgia!


Dates: June 8th-18th, 2006

Cost: $1200 per person; covers all expenses in Georgia including board, lodging, transportation, and guides. See below for details on airfare.

Deposit: $200 due by May 8th, tour limited to fifteen people on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact:
John Graham, Logistics Coordinator
+995 99 365-372
jagraham@wesleyan.edu

Tour Locations:
+ Sighnaghi, a hilltop fortress town built by King Erekle in the 18th century, boasts a four kilometer wall overlooking the broad Alezani valley, and commands a 180 degree view of the Great Caucasus Range. Once an artisan capital, Sighnaghi is quickly reestablishing itself as a center of the artistic renaissance of 21st century Georgia, hosting three dance troupes, folk and sacred choirs, painting, music, carpet-making, and wood-working studios, as well as a regional branch of the State University. We will use this town as a home base in the first half of the tour to visit the incredible treasures of medieval architecture in the region.
+Tbilisi, capital city of Georgia, founded in the 6th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali. A center of trade and conflict for centuries, Tbilisi has been sacked forty times by various invaders but survives today as the modern hub of the South Caucasus. Nevertheless, the downtown area is full of winding cobblestone streets, small shops and restaurants, as well as the churches, synagogues, and mosques that celebrate the diversity of this unique country. For the second half of our tour we will relax in a comfortable downtown hotel, sample the best of Tbilisi’s dining and evening entertainment, and visit the wealth of monasteries in the capital region.

Tour Details:
Based out of Sighnaghi, we will visit the Bodbe Monastery where St. Nino, Enlightener of Georgia, is buried. We will also investigate the 12th century Alaverdi Monastery, the Iqalto Academy, the 16th century Gremi fortress and other sites. In Sighnaghi we will have the pleasure of comfortable country hospitality, and enjoy traditions such as wine tasting, singing, and the traditional Georgian supra feast. Considered by some to be the most beautiful village in the world, Sighnaghi is on the doorstep of the Great Caucasus Range.
After five days, we will move our base to Tbilisi, where we will stay in a comfortable hotel in the Old Town, with views of the 6th century Narikala Fortress, and 14th century Sioni Cathedral, - heart of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Stepping outside the hotel, one can wander through cobblestone streets past Armenian bazaars, Azeri carpet shops, caravanserais once frequented by Silk Road traders, and the still-functioning 16th century Persian baths. Daily tours to regional churches in and around Tbilisi will be complemented with a sampling of Georgia’s finest restaurants and evening entertainment.
Tbilisi may seem old (founded in the 6th century), but we will have occasion to visit Georgia’s ancient capital city Mtskheta, where we will see the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, burial site for Georgian kings and queens. Other locations will include the 6th century churches of Jvari and Anchiskhati, the Assyrian founded Mshio Ghvime and Zedazani Monasteries, as well as a range of historic monuments in Tbilisi. The diversity of Tbilisi’s rich nightlife will be at our fingertips, including award-winning Marionette Theater, Opera, Ballet, Folk Dancing, and a special concert by the Patriachate Choir, Basiani.
The tour will be lead by a trio of chanters, whose secret agenda it is to test the acoustical space of the monasteries we plan to visit. In addition, this tour will be especially interesting for those interested in medieval architecture and fresco painting. Experts in these fields will accompany the tour on several occasions and especially to the Davit Garegi desert monastery, where cave frescos survive from the 9th-16th centuries.

Leader Profiles:
Luarsab Togonidze;
Educated in Canada and England, Luarsab lives with his wife and two daughters in Tbilisi, where he works as a 19th century photography expert and church chant history consultant for the Georgian Patriarchate. He recently toured in America with the Anchiskhati Church Choir, and brings a passion for medieval Georgian culture, history, and singing to his leadership. Luarsab’s other business is restaurants, so he guarantees the best food in Georgia for this tour!

John A Graham;
Ethnomusicologist and Georgian church chant scholar, John has been living between his homes in White River Jct., Vermont and Tbilisi, Georgia for the last three years. He is the recent organizer of the US-based tour of the world-renowned Anchiskhati Church Choir, which successfully toured in fourteen states during the fall of 2005. John brings his developed organizational skills and passion for Georgian history and church chant to the tour. Other guest leaders and specialists will join on special occasion.

Where is Georgia?
Georgia is a country nestled in the South Caucasus with neighbors Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Politically the country is democratic and stable, following a peaceful revolution in 2003 when former Soviet boss Edward Shevernadze was firmly asked to resign. Michael Saakashvili, Columbia law graduate, took over as president and has cleaned up the corrupt police force and begun the uphill battle of bringing Georgia into a post-Soviet economy.

Flights to Georgia:
Airfare to and from Georgia is reliable, with hub airports in London and Vienna. From New York and Boston, prices vary between $1000-$1300, from European destinations between $500-$700. Reservations before May 8th recommended. The tour provides airport pickup and drop-off with English speaking guides.


Contact and Reservations:
John Graham, Logistics Coordinator
+995 99 365-372
jagraham@wesleyan.edu