The Churches of Georgia

It’s been a while. I have been on the road for the last couple of months, so there was no time to update the blog. On the plus side, though, I got to shoot plenty of photography. So the place here will get more lively again in the upcoming weeks and months. Big news first: There is a new web address! Now, the blog can be reached (also) via michaelhoffman.at

In June, I got the opportunity to visit Georgia and Armenia. These are two relatively small countries south of the Caucasus mountain range, equipped with long and dramatic histories. They have distinct cultures with their own alphabets and Christian traditions. While Armenia is a landlocked country, a mountainous place, historically living off trade, Georgia lies between the northern and southern Caucasus, mainly within a fertile lowland. Georgians are predominantly peasants, and many of them cultivate wine. The grape is one of the most important export products of the country. The urban center of Georgia also lies within its geographic center. Tbilisi is an exciting place, modern on the one hand while still maintaining a very traditional and almost oriental flair. But no matter where you are in the country, chances are high you will spot a very distinctive church. Many of these date back as far as the mid of the 1 Century AC and are still important centers of religious and civic life.