GTU Students and Professors Visit the Diocese of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo

Students and professors of the Architecture Educational Program of the Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Design, together with representatives of the Department of Archaeology of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Georgian Technical University, visited the Diocese of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo as part of a series of events marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Christianization of Georgia.

The visit included working meetings and educational activities organized in cooperation with the Patriarchate of Georgia. The visit placed particular emphasis on the study of historical and cultural heritage monuments and on the importance of their preservation and protection.

According to the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Design of the Georgian Technical University, one of the key activities took place at Kvirike Church, where students and academic staff from the Architecture and Archaeology departments discussed the monument’s historical, architectural, and archaeological significance.

Associate Professor Tamar Chanturia noted that the lecture-seminars focused on the study and preservation of Georgia’s Christian heritage, Georgian church architecture and cultural monuments.

“For the past year, the Georgian Technical University, with the initiative and support of the Rector, Academician David Gurgenidze, has been implementing a series of events dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of the Christianization of Georgia. It was particularly valuable that the project brought together students, professors, and academic staff from different departments. The group was led by Associate Professor of Architecture Besarion Tatishvili and included Tamar Chubinidze, Professor in the Department of Art, and Maia Sekhniashvili, Professor of Fine Arts. Four students from the Department of Archaeology and five students from the Architecture Department also participated in the visit. This interdisciplinary composition was particularly valuable, as the study of cultural heritage sites requires close cooperation among the fields of architecture, art, and archaeology.

The work carried out at Kvirike Church allowed students to examine the monument’s historical and architectural features firsthand. The lecture-seminars were equally valuable, providing students with the opportunity to hear from professors and invited specialists about the significance of Georgia’s Christian heritage, church architecture, and archaeological research. Activities of this kind are particularly important for students because they provide practical experience that can make a significant contribution to their professional development.”

– Associate Professor Tamar Chanturia

As part of the events marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Christianization of Georgia, the University places particular emphasis on the scientific study of Georgian church architecture and cultural heritage. An international scientific conference was also held as part of the initiative, with a particular focus on the historical significance of Georgian church architecture and the challenges of preserving this heritage in the modern environment.