Gelati Monastery is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, Imereti, Western Georgia. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th century churches of St George and St Nicholas.The Gelati Monastery for a long time was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers in Georgia. It had an Academy which employed some of the most celebrated Georgian scientists, theologians and philosophers. Many of whom had previously been active at various orthodox monasteries abroad or at the Mangan Academy in Constantinople.

Due to the extensive work carried out by the Gelati Academy, people of the time called it ‘a new Hellas’ and ‘a second Athos’. The Gelati Monastery has preserved a great number of murals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th to 17th centuries. The Khakhuli triptych was enshrined at Gelati until being stolen in 1859. Gelati is the burial site of its founder and one of the greatest Georgian kings David IV. Near King David’s grave are the gates of Ganja, which were taken as a trophy by King Demetrius I of Georgia in 1138. Read more