Destinos de peregrinação cristã em Georgia
Uma das primeiras nações cristãs (século IV), com mosteiros Patrimônio Mundial da UNESCO e uma Igreja Ortodoxa viva.
A Geórgia se converteu ao cristianismo no século IV por intermédio de Santa Nino, uma escrava da Capadócia. Desde então, a Igreja Ortodoxa Georgiana tem sido o coração espiritual do povo georgiano, sobrevivendo a invasões, ocupações e revoluções. Mtskheta, a antiga capital, abriga duas das mais sagradas igrejas da Geórgia: a Catedral de Svetitskhoveli, construída sobre o local tradicionado da Manto de Cristo, e o Mosteiro de Jvari. Vardzia, o dramático mosteiro rupestre às margens do rio Mtkvari, foi criado sob a Rainha Tamar (séculos XII/XIII). Gelati, perto de Kutaisi, é um mosteiro medieval com mosaicos notáveis e o túmulo de Davi, o Construtor.
Rotas de peregrinação por Georgia
Informações práticas
História cristã em Georgia
Georgia became the second Christian nation in history (after Armenia 301) in 326 or 337 AD, through the preaching of Saint Nino — a young Christian woman from Cappadocia who, according to Georgian tradition, came to Georgia as a slave girl with a vision from the Virgin Mary. She converted King Mirian III and Queen Nana, who declared Christianity the state religion of the Kingdom of Iberia.
Georgian Christianity is Chalcedonian — accepting all Seven Ecumenical Councils. The Georgian Orthodox Church is autocephalous (independent), in full eucharistic communion with the Greek, Russian, Constantinople and Bulgarian Patriarchates. This distinguishes Georgian Orthodoxy from neighbouring Armenian Apostolic Christianity (which is Oriental Orthodox, non-Chalcedonian) despite the geographic proximity.
The Georgian medieval Golden Age (11th-13th century) saw the building of the great cathedrals — Svetitskhoveli at Mtskheta (1010-1029), Bagrati at Kutaisi (1003), Alaverdi in Kakheti (early 11th century), Gelati Monastery (1106). King David IV the Builder (r. 1089-1125) and Queen Tamar (r. 1184-1213) — both buried at Gelati — presided over this golden age of Georgian Christian art, architecture and learning.
Georgia survived seven centuries of Persian, Mongol, Ottoman and Russian incursions while preserving its Christian identity. The Georgian Orthodox Church was abolished by the Russian Empire in 1811 and restored only in 1917 with Georgian independence. The Soviet period (1921-1991) saw widespread church destruction, but Mtskheta, Gelati and the major monasteries survived as museums.
Since Georgian independence (1991), the Orthodox Church has experienced a dramatic revival under Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (in office since 1977, the longest-serving Patriarch in the modern Orthodox world). Approximately 84% of Georgians identify as Orthodox today. The 2017 papal visit of Pope Francis to Tbilisi was a significant ecumenical event.
Dicas para peregrinos em Georgia
- A Geórgia é um dos destinos de peregrinação mais acessíveis economicamente neste guia. Hospedagem, refeições e transporte custam uma fração dos preços da Europa Ocidental ou Central.
- Marshrutkas (microônibus) conectam todos os principais locais de peregrinação de forma confiável e acessível. Táxis para excursões de um dia também são econômicos.
- Visite Mtskheta bem cedo pela manhã, antes da chegada dos turistas de Tbilisi.
Tradições cristãs em Georgia
| Tradition | Description | Key Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Georgian Orthodox (Chalcedonian, autocephalous) | The overwhelming majority of Georgian Christians (84% of the population). The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (Ilia II since 1977) is the head of the church. In full eucharistic communion with the Greek, Russian, Constantinople Patriarchates. | Mtskheta (Svetitskhoveli + Jvari), Gelati, Vardzia, Alaverdi, David Gareja, Bagrati |
| Armenian Apostolic (Oriental Orthodox) | Small but significant Armenian community in Georgia — concentrated in Tbilisi (especially the Avlabari district) and in the south. The Norashen Church in Tbilisi is the principal Armenian Apostolic site in Georgia. | Norashen Church Tbilisi, Avlabari district churches |
| Catholic and Protestant | Small minorities (under 1% combined). Catholic churches in Tbilisi and other major cities; Baptist, Lutheran and various Evangelical traditions present. The Catholic Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus oversees the Georgian Catholic community. | Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Tbilisi |