Travels to Jerusalem and Mount Athos

Description

This account by Archpriest Petre Konchoshvili of his travels to Jerusalem and Mount Athos in 1899, was first published in Georgian in 1901. The book's main interest is the relations between the Georgians, Greeks and Russians in the Holy Land and his comments are particularly enlightening in view of the historical events of the period. It will be of interest to history students, scholars interested in travellers and pilgrims, as well as those interested in Orthodox liturgy. This volume provides an English translation prepared by John Wilkinson and Mzia Ebanoidze. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Maps and Illustrations Preface Measures Introduction From Tiflis to Istambul The Church of Agia Sophia in Constantinople In Istambul Again Georgian Monasteries outside Georgia From Istambul to Jerusalem The City of Jerusalem and its Holy Places Celebration of the Appearing of the Holy Fire The World Commemoration of Parents: Differences between our Services and those of the Greeks Liturgy Conducted by His Holiness the Patriarch of Jerusalem The Place of the Last Supper Bethlehem The City of Hebron and the Oak of Mamre: their Meaning The Georgians’ Splendid Monastery of the Cross Lot’s Sea or the Dead Sea The River Jordan and the Settlement of Jericho The Hill Country of John the Baptist’s Birth The Monastery of the Apostle St James Zebedee Nazareth Tabor The Sea of Tiberias Saint Saba’s Lavra The Founding of the Greek Brethren in the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem and their Activities Holy Mount Sinai Differences in Performing Religious Rites in the Jerusalem and the Russian Churches Return from Palestine A Monk from Tusheti on Athos The Holy Mount of Athos St Panteleimon’s Russian Monastery and other Russian Monasteries on Holy Mount Athos The Ancient Iveria Monastery on Athos and the New Cloister of the Georgians of the Holy Apostle and Herald John the Theologian: their relations with each other Voyage from Istambul to Odessa The Present-day Religious and Moral Conditions of the Georgians Living in Sokhumi The Basis, Power, and Importance of Conducting and Listening to the Service and the Preaching of the Gospel in the Vernacular Today’s Religious and Moral State of the Georgians Inhabiting Chorokhi Gorge from Early Times Return to the Homeland Some Impressions of a Russian General during his Visit to Georgian Holy Monasteries in Palestine and on Holy Mount Athos A letter from the Brethren of the Georgian Cloister on Athos Index of Names and Places