Euronews about Tbilisi and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
Euronews has published two new articles about Georgia (See the videos bellow). One of them is dedicated to an old city of the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. Another one tells about Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, main Orthodox church in Mtskheta. We should mention that Mtskheta was original capital of Georgia, but in 5th century the statues moved to Tbilisi.
In Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi modernity and ancient history are separated by just a few meters, says the article and that’s true. Tbilisi is a combination of modern architecture and historic buildings. Georgian architecture and Georgian culture in general, has experienced influence from both European and Asian countries and this has created unique example of mixture of different cultures.
The Peace Bridge located in the heart of Tbilisi is an example of modern architecture. “The cohabitation between history and modernity is perhaps best illustrated by the Peace Bridge that connects the newer parts of the capital to the ancient ones” – says the article. Euronews got introduced with a legend about how Tbilisi was founded. “According to legend, in the fifth century, King Vakhtang Gorgasalince founded the future capital of united Georgia during a horse hunt” – the article says.
The king shot a falcon that fell in a place today called Abanotubani. This lead to the discovery of hot springs. Tbilisi has always been famous for its hot springs, where today stand public baths.
Another article from Euronews tells about Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtsketa. The city is located 20 kilometers from Tbilisi. Cathedral was built between 1010 and 1029. “The cathedral is one of the most revered places of worship in the country and was one of the main pilgrimages sites on the Silk Road, even nowadays it hosts ancient traditions and mysterious legends” – says the article. The Cathedral, as well as whole complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The article brings words of Buba Kudava, Professor of History at the Caucasus University of Tbilisi, who says that for Georgians Svetitskhoveli is not just a church, a religious site, a holy sanctuary or the king’s graveyard. It’s a place that represents the whole history of Georgia, with battles, construction, destruction and again reconstruction.