"The rich history and global significance of Gelati place a profound responsibility on all of us to protect and preserve this invaluable heritage for future generations," stated Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his address at an event dedicated to the implementation of the Gelati Monastery Wall Painting and Mosaic Conservation Programs.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Gelati has long stood as one of the most important centers of Georgian spirituality and culture and continues to hold that role today.
“The universal value of Gelati’s unique architectural ensemble has been recognized by UNESCO. The rich history and global significance of Gelati place a profound responsibility on all of us to protect and preserve this invaluable heritage for future generations. We all remember the significant challenges the site has faced in recent years – including the serious risk of removal from the World Heritage List. Through collective efforts, we were able to retain its status,” he noted.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze expressed deep appreciation to the international experts involved in the restoration process and thanked them for their contributions.
He also highlighted the importance of close cooperation between the Church and the state in ensuring the effective implementation of conservation efforts.
“We have a coordinated strategy in place: the Patriarchate, as the monument’s custodian, oversees the methodology of the restoration, while the government provides full financial and material support. This model of collaboration aligns fully with UNESCO’s principles, which call for participatory and inclusive heritage preservation. Such cooperation fosters new practices in cultural heritage protection and should be adopted in similar future projects. On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I reaffirm our continued commitment to supporting this vital initiative. We are confident that, very soon, the Gelati Monastery will be fully restored—free of scaffolding and temporary structures—and we will once again take pride in this national treasure,” he stated.
The reporting event on the ongoing conservation of Gelati Monastery’s wall paintings and mosaics, held at Kutaisi International University and organized by the Temporary Committee for the Rehabilitation of Gelati, featured addresses from key figures, including Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Patriarchal locum tenens ; Minister of Culture Tinatin Rukhadze; and Director General of the Georgian National Museum Davit Lortkipanidze.
The keynote presentations were delivered by British wall painting conservation expert Stephen Rickerby and Italian mosaic conservation specialist Professor Roberto Nardi. Both experts presented detailed progress reports on the two central components of the Gelati Monastery rehabilitation program: the conservation of wall paintings and mosaics.
