The visiting card of Orthodox Abkhazia is the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda. At the moment, it is in the process of restoration, annually opening more and more new beauties to visitors.
Legacy of bygone eras
Like many temples of the country, time did not spare him. For many years, its halls were in desolation, casting despondency and hopelessness. The colors of the frescoes decorating the tops of the domes are barely distinguishable even in bright sunlight. Paintings depicting the twelve apostles were laid out in the 13th century.
Today the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda is recognized as the largest building of its kind in the country. Its size surprises even experienced travelers. The height of the skeleton reaches thirty meters. Length - 37, and masonry width - 25.
The official date of construction of the complex is not known for certain. It is believed that it was erected at the very end of the 10th century. For a long period, it played the role of a patronal church and was an integral part of a single monastery courtyard.
Silent captivity
The Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda is the pride and symbol of cultural heritagepeoples living on the territory of modern Abkhazia. Its walls, which are over one and a half meters thick, are made of two materials at once.
Ancient architects used natural stone and brick, which create the very recognizable alternation of stripes of the main building of the complex. The lower tiers are almost entirely represented by blocks. The upper ones are made of brick, from which miniature elements of the architectural ensemble are created.
The outer side is decorated with narrow loophole windows separated by crosses. The interior space is plastered and decorated with frescoes. Alas, only a small fraction of the we alth that the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda was famous for centuries ago has survived.
In addition to the main spacious hall, the temple has a tomb hiding two shrines from prying eyes. They contain the relics of Simon Kanahit and Andrew the First-Called.
Lost Legacy
The frescoes, which nevertheless managed to be preserved and restored, are truly priceless. The fact is that the first attempts to restore paintings were made in the 19th century. They were so unprofessional that they caused irreparable damage to the complex.
The process of renovation of church painting was led by a certain architect named Norov. It was he who, inspired by samples of the works of Italian artists, gave the order to lighten the old canvases.
The Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda (Abkhazia) did not spare the war, which lasted exactly one year. In 1878, the interior of the monastery was savagely looted by Turkish soldiers.
Sovietpast
After the revolution, the fate of the temple also turned out to be unenviable. In 1970, local authorities arranged a concert hall in it, covering the rarest works of icon painters with a layer of plaster. Having set themselves the goal of improving the acoustic capabilities of the hall, the builders smashed part of the frescoes, destroying them forever.
Under state protection The 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 subject to restoration.
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. Its sound quality is in no way inferior to the previous acoustics.
Modern realities
In 2010, there was a lot of controversy around the temple scene. Representatives of the Orthodox diocese of the country stated that the location of the body is unacceptable. But the secular community defended the musical tradition that had developed within the walls of the monastery.
The lion's share of priceless artifacts found in the vicinity of the cathedral is carefully stored in the Museum of Art. We are talking about fragments of a mosaic floor, icons and the royal seal. Since 2006, archaeological excavations have been carried out on the territory of the church, which have alreadyhave borne fruit. The remains of the foundation and walls were completely cleared of soil.
Contact information
Tens of thousands of tourists tend to visit the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda. How to get to it? Everything is very simple. The temple rises in the heart of the city of Pitsunda. There are public transport stops within walking distance. Shuttle taxis run here and there.
The doors of the monastery close at five o'clock in the evening. If you arrive early, you can see not only the main building of the ensemble, but also the monastery courtyard. It contains the smallest dolmen in Abkhazia and a couple of well-preserved chapels. In summer, the loopholes in the walls are partially overgrown with grass. Access to them can be difficult.
The local history museum and souvenir shop are open until late in the evening. The cost of an entrance ticket for an adult visitor of the complex last year was 50 rubles. For an excursion accompanied by a professional Russian-speaking guide, they asked for 150.
