The business card of Orthodox Abkhazia is the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda. At the moment, it is in the process of restoration, annually opening up more and more beauty to visitors.
Like many temples of the country, time did not regret it.For many years its halls were in desolation, casting despondency and hopelessness. The colors of the frescoes that decorate the dome domes are subtle even in bright sunlight. Pictures of the twelve apostles were laid out in the XIII century.
Today the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda is recognized as the mosta large building of its kind in the country. Its size surprises even experienced travelers. The height of the wreck reaches thirty meters. The length is 37, and the width of the laying is 25.
The official date of construction of the complex is for sureunknown. It is believed that it was erected at the very end of the X century. For a long time, he played the role of the cathedral church and was an integral part of a single monastic residence.
Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda - the pride and symbolcultural heritage of peoples living in the territory of modern Abkhazia. Its walls, whose thickness exceeds one and a half meters, are laid out simultaneously from two materials.
Ancient architects used natural stone andbricks, which create the most recognizable alternation of lanes of the main building of the complex. The lower tiers are almost entirely represented by blocks. The upper ones are made of bricks, from which miniature elements of the architectural ensemble are created.
The outer side is decorated with narrow window-loopholes,separated by crosses. The interior is plastered and decorated with frescoes. Alas, only a fraction of the wealth that the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda was famous for centuries ago has been preserved.
In addition to the main spacious hall, there is a tomb in the temple, which hides two shrines from outside eyes. They contain the relics of Simon Kanayit and Andrew the First-Called.
Фрески, которые все-таки удалось сохранить и recover is truly priceless. The fact is that the first attempts to restore the paintings were made in the XIX century. They were so unprofessional that they caused irreparable damage to the complex.
He supervised the process of renewing church painting by an architect named Norov. It was he who, inspired by samples of works by Italian artists, gave the order to lighten old paintings.
The Patriarchal Council in Pitsunda (Abkhazia) and the war, which lasted exactly one year, did not spare. In 1878, the interior of the monastery was savagely plundered by Turkish warriors.
After the revolution, the fate of the temple also turned out to beunenviable. In 1970, local authorities staged a concert hall in it, closing a layer of plaster with the rarest works of icon painters. Having set a goal to improve the acoustic capabilities of the hall, the builders smashed some of the frescoes, destroying them forever.
Under the protection of the state Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda(Abkhazia) was taken much later. At that time, paintings located in the inner part of the main dome, images of seven angels and cherubs plus part of the frescoes were to be restored.
At the time when the temple was used as a concert hall, an organ brought from Germany was installed in it. Its weight exceeds twenty tons! And the height of the instrument is 11 meters.
Until now, the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda is considered the best stage for musical performances in Abkhazia. The body is in good condition. The quality of its sound is not inferior to the same acoustics.
In 2010, around the scene in the temple eruptedserious disputes. Representatives of the Orthodox Diocese of the country stated that finding an organ is unacceptable. But the secular public defended the musical tradition established in the monastic walls.
The lion's share of the priceless artifacts found insurroundings of the cathedral, carefully kept in the Museum of Art. We are talking about fragments laid out by the mosaic of the floor, icons and the royal seal. Since 2006, archaeological excavations have been carried out on the territory of the church, which have already borne fruit. The remains of the foundation and walls were completely cleared of soil.
Tens of thousands of tourists eager to visitPatriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda. How to get to him? Everything is very simple. The temple stands in the heart of the city of Pitsunda. Within walking distance there are public transport stops. Immediately now and then shuttle shuttles.
The doors of the monastery close at five o'clock in the evening.If you arrive early, you can see not only the main structure of the ensemble, but also the monastery compound. It contains the smallest dolmen in Abkhazia and a couple of well-preserved chapels. In the summer, loopholes in the walls are partially overgrown with grass. Passage to them is difficult.
Local history museum and souvenir shop openright up to the very late evening. The cost of admission for an adult visitor to the complex last year was 50 rubles. During the tour, accompanied by a professional Russian-speaking guide, they asked for 150.
